Her Story
About Nyoka
I've been working in museums and art galleries since my junior year of high school, when I first got a museum internship and started really volunteering and getting into the art world. I've mainly worked in curatorial work - I love curating, I love organizing and kind of putting together my own craft and vision for an exhibit. During a typical day at the museum where I worked for 2 years, I would do a reading from the American Alliance of Museums newsletter because it's just a good thing as a museum professional to keep updating on the museum world. Then I'd help the head curator of the department, and we'd discuss methods to improve the exhibit. She'd give me tasks like refilling the paper and pencils in the hands-on exhibit or helping her rewrite labels that are tattered and need to be replaced. I've also done a lot of work in art galleries, which are similar in a way - from having background working in different art galleries, I know how to handle art, talk about art, how to be kind to people, how to bring people in, how to talk to guests. Museums display art in a different kind of context, but those skills transfer well. I'm currently a college student in Philadelphia, and I'm getting a public relations minor because I have a lot of skills that correlate to public relations, and you can kind of pivot - a lot of people combine the two and it works out well for them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nyoka
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute a lot of my success to all the connections I've made and all the people around me. I really wouldn't be in the spot I am without, you know, a friend of a friend, or someone saying, oh, I was thinking about you when I heard of this work. I am very, very grateful for all the people that have surrounded me and that have helped connect me with others and get me to where I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never take anyone for granted. A connection can always lead you somewhere.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be your most authentic self. I found that when I was trying to pursue this career, and I found out that I was really passionate about curating, and this is what I really like, really dive into that, because when you're really interested in something, that interest will take you farther than if you're trying to force yourself to go into archival research and you don't really like it that much. Sometimes things can just bore me, and if it bores me, I can't do it anymore.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges at the moment are the current administration and the ways of our government. They don't very much value the arts - museums and art galleries have been getting defunded at a large, large rate. I remember being in meetings when I did work at the museum, and during our staff meetings, the director would talk about the defunding that's going on. Even really big institutions like the Smithsonian are worried about their funding, which is not okay. Museums are very important to assess what a society values and what they hold to the most highest importance. As for opportunities, a big opportunity going into this field is not only the networks and connections that you make, but also the variety of it. I feel like anyone in the museum field of some sort have skills that can be applied to other things. I'm going into the museum field, but I also have a lot of skills that correlate to public relations, so I'm also getting a public relations minor, and you can kind of pivot. A lot of people that do pivot - the two of them combined really works out well for them.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I really value authenticity. I think really putting what you think, your own mind forward, will carry you far in life, and for the most part, it will carry me far in life.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Massachusetts
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.