Steph Essin

My top piece of advice is don't wait to be ready. I've taken roles that I haven't felt fully qualified for, and I've launched things before I felt really prepared. Each major growth point really comes from stepping forward slightly before you feel safe. Perfection is just a delay tactic, so just dive into things. We all get in this perfectionist mindset and feel underqualified with our classic imposter syndromes, but if you're being considered for a role or if something interests you, you're ready. Also, dress for the job that you want, not the job you have. Sit at tables with people you want to be, people above you so you can be inspired, but also clear a seat for someone who sees themselves as not worthy of being at the table, or give up your seat to someone who's more deserving and find a different table that's more aligned. Collaboration in that sense is really important. And finally, learn to think beyond your job description - dream bigger than what your current job title is. You can always reach for more. You deserve more.

The main challenge in the arts world right now is getting art out of storage and onto gallery walls. Something like 90% of art just sits in storage, and federal funding is being cut left and right, making it really hard for museums to get funding. This is where Art Bridges Foundation comes in - we serve as connective tissue between museums, loaning artworks from our collection to smaller museums who might never get an Andy Warhol otherwise, and helping larger museums get their wonderful collections out of storage and lent to smaller institutions. We take on all the financial costs of this work, which is really important given the current funding challenges. As Creative Senior Manager, I contribute to this mission through branding, storytelling, and building our online presence to grow awareness of this foundation, which is in its 10th year.

My three core values are strengthening other people, leading with story, and building things that matter. First, I believe in making other people shine - as a manager, my biggest successes have been when I've stepped aside and let my interns or reports shine to upper management. Getting out of the way and supporting younger talent, giving people visibility they wouldn't have otherwise, that's huge. Second, I value using story as a bridge. Stories truly empower people - I've heard the saying that nobody's ever marched on Wall Street because of a pie chart. It's about distilling things down into a way that someone can understand, see you, or value you. The way you talk about yourself, present yourself, and present your work really matters in that narrative. Third, I believe in building things that matter and building them well - doing meaningful work and executing it with excellence. It's about believing in creative work that's both meaningful and operationally really well done, leaving behind a clear process or path for others that follow.