In the beginning when Artsgod created nonprofit administration, the org chart was a formless void of jack-of-all-trades that covered the face of the deep.
Then Artsgod said, “Let there be light” and there was light. Artsgod saw that the light was good; and he separated marketing from development.
Artsgod called the light earned income and the darkness was called unearned income. There was now a revenue stream where never the two shall meet.
Artsgod saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good…until it wasn’t.
And that’s where today’s topic comes in: deconstructing the silos that are marketing and development. This episode’s guests include Anwar Nasir, the Chief Revenue and Advancement Officer for the Omaha Symphony, and Scott Harrison, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s interim executive director and senior strategic facilitator.
Today’s episode is a bit longer than normal thanks to conversation points dovetailing so nicely. We go down several fun rabbit holes like professional development and how the platforms we use create limitations and potential; as such, there’s no Last Call segment this week. Here are some memorable quotes:
“Deconstructing silos is about becoming a more empathetic and thoughtful institution.”
“Innovation must be iterative.”
“If you’re looking for the perfect customer management system, know that it doesn’t exist.”
Head’s up: there was a bit of Zoom lag from Anwar’s connection. It’s not overly intrusive and only cycles through infrequently so knowing it’s not show-stopper in advance helps.
Anwar Nasir is the Chief Revenue and Advancement Officer for the Omaha Symphony. He sets the vision and strategy for relationship management, public-facing communications, and revenue generation for the orchestra. Previously, he has held management positions with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl, Atlanta Ballet, and Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation.
Celebrated as a leader with “imagination and ambition” by the LA Times, Scott Harrison has secured tens of millions of dollars in funding from individuals, institutions, and public sources for arts organizations nationwide while designing initiatives that are changing cultural practice and audience engagement. He has helped lead multiple organizations through uncertain times with a focus on culture, creativity, collaboration and cultivation – among them the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He has just joined the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as their interim executive director and senior strategic facilitator. Scott is a founding board member of BLUME Haiti, which supports youth development via strengthening Haiti’s music education ecosystem.
