Macy Schmidt on Creative Risks, Audience-Centered Experiences, and Barbie
Release Date: 09/11/2025
Macy Schmidt on Creative Risks, Audience-Centered Experiences, and Barbie
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
How do you invite new audiences into the symphony in a way that feels fresh, joyful, and unforgettable? Macy Schmidt has been asking that question with every project she takes on. As the founder of The Sinfonietta and CEO of Overture Global Entertainment, she’s not just producing concerts—she’s designing live experiences that feel transformative for new audiences. In this episode, Macy reflects on the early influences that shaped her approach to orchestration, the audience-first philosophy that guides her work, and how she’s scaling women-led orchestras around the world. She also...
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Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts, on Advocacy, Resilience, and the Power of Community
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
Few leaders expect their first months on the job to coincide with a fight for the future of the arts in America. For Erin Harkey, that became the reality when she stepped in as CEO of Americans for the Arts earlier this year—just as the federal government proposed eliminating national arts funding. In this episode, Erin reflects on her career journey, from shaping cultural policy in Chicago to stepping into one of the most prominent arts leadership roles in the country. She shares why public funding is uniquely powerful, how communities can mobilize in times of uncertainty, and why joy...
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David Jammy on Story-First Producing and the 2025 Mark Twain Prize
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
What turns a live event into a cultural moment people never forget? David Jammy has some answers. As Executive Producer at Done+Dusted, he’s helped shape global broadcasts from the Emmys and Kennedy Center Honors to the Global Citizen Festival and the Mark Twain Prize. In this conversation, David traces his path from student activist in apartheid-era South Africa to producing events that capture history as it happens. He shares his storytelling philosophy, the challenge of turning fleeting moments into lasting television, and the behind-the-scenes story of the 2025 Mark Twain Prize honoring...
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Jen Taylor on Building AI Strategy That Serves Your Mission
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
AI is changing how we work. What does that mean for arts and culture? Jen Taylor, Capacity Interactive’s Director of AI Strategy and Integration, shares what her research with over 100 arts leaders and administrators reveals about where the field really stands with AI: a mix of curiosity, caution, and untapped opportunity. In this episode, Jen and Monica unpack how AI can save time for under-resourced teams, how organizations can build policies that align with their missions, and why the technology should amplify—not replace—human creativity. This episode is your guide to embracing AI...
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Kendra Whitlock Ingram on Building Arts-Fueled Cities
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
What happens when a cultural district leads a city’s revival? As President and CEO of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Kendra Whitlock Ingram is leading the cultural district through a new era of civic transformation—building public spaces, breaking down barriers to access, and reimagining what a cultural district can be. In this episode, Kendra and Monica Holt explore what it takes to lead complex institutions, foster inclusive programming, and make the arts central to a city’s future—not just its history. LINKS:
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Clive Chang on Innovation and the Rise of the Multi‑Hyphenate Artist
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
Can legacy arts institutions innovate like start-ups? Clive Chang thinks so. As President and CEO of YoungArts, he’s reimagining how a 40-year-old organization can support today’s multi-disciplinary artists—by questioning everything, embracing experimentation, and making space for creative risk. In this conversation, Clive and host Monica Holt unpack how to disrupt old habits, build a culture of curiosity, and keep tradition from becoming inertia. --- LINKS:
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CI to Eye | Monica Holt On Curiosity, Leadership, and Evita
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
A bold new chapter. A brilliant new voice. CI’s President Christopher Williams kicks off a new season of CI to Eye by welcoming Monica Holt, this season's host and Senior Advisor to Capacity Interactive. Monica reflects on her 16-year journey at the Kennedy Center, the passion that’s driven her work, and all things Evita—plus what to expect from upcoming episodes. ---- LINKS:
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CI to Eye | Bridging the Marketing-Development Divide
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
Marketing and development teams in arts and cultural organizations work toward the same goals: generating revenue, deepening relationships, and advancing the mission. But too often, they’re doing that work in silos—on separate timelines, using different tools, and speaking to the same audiences in different ways. The result? Missed opportunities and diminished impact. In this episode, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Director of Marketing, Jeanna Vella, and Director of Development, Sara Clark, share what happens when we break down silos and create true cross-departmental partnerships....
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CI to Eye | Political Shifts and Cultural Stakes of 2025
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
Recent political developments in the U.S.—from executive orders to proposed agency closures and evolving federal funding guidelines—have placed cultural organizations at the center of a national conversation about how institutions uphold their values and navigate their role in a rapidly changing America. In this episode, Brett Egan of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management breaks down what’s happening now, what’s at stake, and where cultural organizations might find unexpected opportunity in the turbulence. CI to Eye with Brett Egan (1:30) -- CI’s President...
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CI to Eye | What Zoos Can Teach Us About Exceptional Guest Experiences
CI to Eye with Monica Holt
Great experiences don’t happen by accident—they’re designed with intention. From the first click on a website to the moment a visitor steps through your door to engagement after they leave, every interaction shapes how people feel about an organization. So what does it take to create a truly exceptional guest experience? Emily O’Hara, Senior Director of Guest Experience at the Detroit Zoological Society, thinks about this every day. In this episode, she shares how the Detroit Zoo fosters personal connections and creates a welcoming, engaging environment for every guest. We explore...
info_outlineHow do you invite new audiences into the symphony in a way that feels fresh, joyful, and unforgettable? Macy Schmidt has been asking that question with every project she takes on. As the founder of The Sinfonietta and CEO of Overture Global Entertainment, she’s not just producing concerts—she’s designing live experiences that feel transformative for new audiences.
In this episode, Macy reflects on the early influences that shaped her approach to orchestration, the audience-first philosophy that guides her work, and how she’s scaling women-led orchestras around the world. She also shares how one bold pitch to Mattel grew into Barbie the Movie in Concert, and reveals the creative decisions that made the project a global phenomenon.
For arts and culture leaders, Macy’s insights show what’s possible when you shift from guarding traditions to designing moments that stay with people long after the final note.
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