Five things future leaders in the creative industries need to know
As the creative industries continue to flourish and more businesses are putting greater emphasis on creative leadership practices, Dr. Leandro Valiati from the University of Manchester discusses five vital considerations for aspiring leaders across the creative sector.
Good leadership really does matter. Leaders shape the culture of an organisation – how the people who work in it feel about it, how committed they are and the assumptions they hold in common about “how we do things around here.” In the creative industries, good leadership is even more important. Good leaders in the creative industries are those who, when the industry is shifting and there are new trends on the horizon, are able to provide clarity and foresight for markets and policy decision-making. With that said, here are five key considerations for those looking to pursue a leadership career in the creative industries.
- Being ahead of the curve when it comes to industry changes: A future leader in the creative industries needs to recognise the sector’s changing landscape and be equipped to change with it. With an industry as ever-changing as the creative sector, keeping your eye on the tide and anticipating shifts in trends or cultural sensitivities is incredibly important. Whether that be fashion, media, film, or music, greater awareness of what sorts of things are gaining popularity is incredibly important for brand positioning and competitor analysis. By studying BA Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) at Manchester, students will gain a deep understanding of important cultural debates and ideas to aid them as they pursue a career in the ever-changing creative industries.
- “It’s not only what you know, it’s also who you know”: Knowledge of a sector can be learnt but strong connections and relations need to be earned and nurtured. A leader’s success is often a result of the strong network of people they have built around them. Aspiring leaders need to be aware of those around them, their roles in their sector and how they can support bringing a vision to reality. Learning to build a network, and being inclusive with your relationships, will be vital for any leader in the creative sector. Throughout three years of interdisciplinary study, CCI students will get the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant academics from different fields as well as renowned institutions in the city such as Aviva Factory, HOME, Manchester Arts Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery, building their network from the outset.
- Communication: Ideas form the foundation of the creative industry, but communication is the tool needed for the real building to begin. A good leader needs to be able to communicate thoughts and ideas to relevant stakeholders, from people internal to their organisation, who help their ideas become reality, to external investors, who will be able to provide funding, and even to the public, who will directly benefit from those ideas.
- Embracing technology: In an increasingly digital world, it is important that businesses in all sectors embrace technology – even more so in the creative industries; a sector powered by innovation. Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and immersive experiences bring huge potential. Advanced technologies can supercharge creativity, streamline content generation, and save time and resources on mundane tasks when used strategically. Students of CCI will have the opportunity to debate and explore how these new technologies can be used to impact the industry positively.
- Spotting opportunities: The success of a creative business is often found in their diversity – they can be small, young, and growing, as well as global and established. It can be a crowded market, which presents both huge opportunities and leadership challenges if you really want to make an impact. The ability to stand-out can be a key factor in securing funding – a key challenge for businesses in the sector. It’s important for aspiring leaders to recognise the fragile, ever-changing nature of their business models and be aware of initiatives that are available to help improve this, and studying CCI will help future leaders do just that.
The University of Manchester’s BA Creative and Cultural Industries is aimed at anyone aspiring to leadership roles in industries such as media, film, music, theatre, fashion and publishing, or in policymaking for these sectors. The course will help to develop a critical understanding of the industries from a global perspective.
Find out more information about the course and how to apply here.
Created on behalf of The University of Manchester’s Faculty of Humanities by Citypress
For more information please contact: Aisha Sodawala
Aisha.sodawala@citypress.co.uk
T: +44 (0)161 235 0311
M: +44 (0)7427645460
As the creative industries continue to flourish and more businesses are putting greater emphasis on creative leadership practices, Dr. Leandro Valiati from the University of Manchester discusses five vital considerations for aspiring leaders across the creative sector.
Good leadership really does matter. Leaders shape the culture of an organisation – how the people who work in it feel about it, how committed they are and the assumptions they hold in common about “how we do things around here.” In the creative industries, good leadership is even more important. Good leaders in the creative industries are those who, when the industry is shifting and there are new trends on the horizon, are able to provide clarity and foresight for markets and policy decision-making. With that said, here are five key considerations for those looking to pursue a leadership career in the creative industries.
- Being ahead of the curve when it comes to industry changes: A future leader in the creative industries needs to recognise the sector’s changing landscape and be equipped to change with it. With an industry as ever-changing as the creative sector, keeping your eye on the tide and anticipating shifts in trends or cultural sensitivities is incredibly important. Whether that be fashion, media, film, or music, greater awareness of what sorts of things are gaining popularity is incredibly important for brand positioning and competitor analysis. By studying BA Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) at Manchester, students will gain a deep understanding of important cultural debates and ideas to aid them as they pursue a career in the ever-changing creative industries.
- “It’s not only what you know, it’s also who you know”: Knowledge of a sector can be learnt but strong connections and relations need to be earned and nurtured. A leader’s success is often a result of the strong network of people they have built around them. Aspiring leaders need to be aware of those around them, their roles in their sector and how they can support bringing a vision to reality. Learning to build a network, and being inclusive with your relationships, will be vital for any leader in the creative sector. Throughout three years of interdisciplinary study, CCI students will get the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant academics from different fields as well as renowned institutions in the city such as Aviva Factory, HOME, Manchester Arts Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery, building their network from the outset.
- Communication: Ideas form the foundation of the creative industry, but communication is the tool needed for the real building to begin. A good leader needs to be able to communicate thoughts and ideas to relevant stakeholders, from people internal to their organisation, who help their ideas become reality, to external investors, who will be able to provide funding, and even to the public, who will directly benefit from those ideas.
- Embracing technology: In an increasingly digital world, it is important that businesses in all sectors embrace technology – even more so in the creative industries; a sector powered by innovation. Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and immersive experiences bring huge potential. Advanced technologies can supercharge creativity, streamline content generation, and save time and resources on mundane tasks when used strategically. Students of CCI will have the opportunity to debate and explore how these new technologies can be used to impact the industry positively.
- Spotting opportunities: The success of a creative business is often found in their diversity – they can be small, young, and growing, as well as global and established. It can be a crowded market, which presents both huge opportunities and leadership challenges if you really want to make an impact. The ability to stand-out can be a key factor in securing funding – a key challenge for businesses in the sector. It’s important for aspiring leaders to recognise the fragile, ever-changing nature of their business models and be aware of initiatives that are available to help improve this, and studying CCI will help future leaders do just that.
The University of Manchester’s BA Creative and Cultural Industries is aimed at anyone aspiring to leadership roles in industries such as media, film, music, theatre, fashion and publishing, or in policymaking for these sectors. The course will help to develop a critical understanding of the industries from a global perspective.
Find out more information about the course and how to apply here.
Created on behalf of The University of Manchester’s Faculty of Humanities by Citypress
For more information please contact: Aisha Sodawala
Aisha.sodawala@citypress.co.uk
T: +44 (0)161 235 0311
M: +44 (0)7427645460
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