Embracing “What if …”
What if we turned inward and poured into each other, helping the next generation of museum leaders innovate, grow, and lead?
If I have learned one thing during my time in MaP, it is to enthusiastically and emphatically embrace “What If…?”
In December of 2020, I wrote Kyle an email in response to his end-of-year newsletter. I was laid up in bed with COVID-19 and left alone with my thoughts. Here is an excerpt of what I wrote:
I have been kicking around an idea for the past few months around how nonprofits can center humanity in the workplace. Throughout the COVID crisis, I have seen museums/nonprofits with very large endowments decide to lay off and furlough their workers. My organization did this. We have a $350+ million endowment and instead of taking a % draw to ride out these turbulent times, they cut our workforce by over 60%. They have asked those that are still employed to take on the work that was left from vacant positions and to do so without additional compensation. This approach is catastrophic for our field. It preys on our mission-driven, can-do attitudes to carry the burden when top executives and board members sit comfortably with their elevated salaries and perks. I have been doing a lot of research on human-centered design and while this typically applies to a product, I have been curious as to what it would look like if we applied these same strategies to designing an organization. The organization becomes the product and the users are the employees. How can we change the exploitive culture of nonprofits to serve those who make up the organization? If we turn inward and professionally pour into our employees, what would our external impact be?”
This email started a beautiful adventure.
Within a month, I quit my job and started a consulting firm, Clover Strategic Consulting. I joined MaP in Spring 2021 and quickly found my place. I joined the book club, attended fireside chats, and signed up for a small-scale research lab. MaP provided me a space to cultivate ideas, challenge systems, and be in a community with museum professionals across a variety of disciplines.
Succinctly put, MaP helped me recognize and celebrate my value.
Here are the unexpected surprises I experienced within MaP:
Kyle’s inclusive leadership healed some very deep wounds of mine regarding leadership in museums. He built a platform to question our practice, created space for others to help shape and challenge MaP, and, most importantly, he appreciated your contributions both publicly and privately.
My out-of-the-box thinking and problem-solving were celebrated and encouraged.
My POV sharpened and now my consulting business focuses on building healthy workplace cultures through human-centered practices and leadership.
I became a writer, which for me is terrifying. As an Enneagram 3, I feel most vulnerable when I share my ideas because there is an underlying need for external validation.
When I experienced two miscarriages within 6 months, Kyle made space for me to show up (or not) as I needed, in whatever capacity, helping me through one of the darkest times of my life.
What if someone created a community for museum professionals to gather, contribute, and learn together? What if they led with humility and integrity, letting MaP evolve to what the community needs rather than a rigid, prescriptive original idea? What if we turned inward and poured into each other, helping the next generation of museum leaders innovate, grow, and lead?
MaP is the professional development, the canvas, the community, and the leadership that I needed to move forward. As I reflect back, I can’t help but wonder, what if I didn’t send that email? What if I didn’t join MaP? Where would I be?
What will your what-ifs be once you join MaP? I welcome you to find out and join this thriving community. I look forward to learning alongside you.
Rebekah
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