Cultural organizations need courage to survive in the future.
Renewal is never easy — especially for institutions built on traditions that have lasted for centuries. Yet culture and art have always been about challenging the status quo.

Last Thursday and Friday, I had the honor of hosting a series of sessions for The Business of Culture 2025–2026 in Copenhagen, under the theme “Leading with Courage and Love.” I left deeply inspired by the executives I worked with — leaders who are learning not only to navigate uncertainty but to embrace it.

The way we consume culture has transformed via new tech: music streaming, TikTok, huge flat-screen TVs, virtual reality, and others that didn’t exist when museums, concert halls, libraries, and theaters were created. Tradition is valuable, but stubborn rigidity is not. These cultural organizations really need to think what to do next!

How will your organization build on its tradition and strengths, without over-protecting its history?


*Great papers we discussed during the session
Ranjay Gulati, 2025, Now Is the Time for Courage, HBR https://lnkd.in/dP28Ry_p

Ryan Raffaelli & Ryann Noe, 2025, Organizational Emplacement as a Response to Digital Threat: The Novel Resurgence of Independent Bookstores, https://lnkd.in/d6Gie4sg

Rachael Dailey Goodwin, Lyndon E. Garrett, Ali P. Block 2025 Under Pressure to Be Perfect: How Dehumanizing and Rehumanizing Social Cues Lead to Maladaptive and Adaptive Perfectionism in Professional Ballet, https://lnkd.in/dAN8ZXRk

The session was part of AaltoEE Culture of Business Program, led by Nana Salin and Suvi Leinonen, who have done an amazing job!

Super big thanks to all the participants for the inspiring days!