Making an Impact in the Arts
Q&A with Julia Rowe, Raising Leaders Fellow
San Francisco Ballet’s Raising Leaders program provides professional and personal development for selected SF Ballet company dancers who want to lead and make an impact within the dance and arts sectors.
In the spring of 2024, Julia Rowe and Sasha De Sola were announced as the inaugural fellows of the program and started their journey through the program in July this year.
Enjoy hearing some reflection from Julia here:
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET: What inspired you to apply for the inaugural Raising Leaders initiative? What do you find most supportive or helpful about the program?
JULIA ROWE: I wanted to apply for the Raising Leaders initiative because I felt it would enable me to combine my extensive experience in the performing arts with my passion for learning and facilitating meaningful change. I believe that the arts are for everyone, and I see so much potential for ballet to tell meaningful stories and better connect more people.
I was honestly not sure what to expect from this program at first, given this is the inaugural season. Fortunately, with Kerry and Tamara’s support, I have been able to have very interesting and informative conversations with some of the smartest and most successful leaders in the field, including Kerry and Tamara themselves. I have also had the opportunity to meet with department directors at SFB and leaders at LinkedIn and Stanford. I have enjoyed learning how non-profits are structured, and how each department exists as a vital function within the whole organization. As a dancer, my experience has revolved almost exclusively around creation in the studio, and performance on stage. It has been incredible to exchange knowledge with people who facilitate the opportunities for us to create and perform.
SFB: What is your focus?
JR: Right now, I am focusing on learning: taking a deep dive into who I am as an artist and how I can translate that into innovative and effective leadership. I would love to see the performing arts thrive in the coming decades and believe there is so much potential in San Francisco to do great things.
SFB: Talk to us about your time at LinkedIn and some takeaways from your visits?
JR: Along with Sasha De Sola, I had the opportunity to visit LinkedIn, twice, to meet with Roxane Bal. There, we built out our LinkedIn profiles and discussed how to optimize its use for networking opportunities. One of my favorite parts of these visits (aside from the stunning city views from the conference room) was comparing company culture and industry practices between our respective fields. It was wonderful to see how different groups manage similar challenges.
SFB: Of all your findings, meetings, research, etc, what has surprised you the most so far?
JR: I am surprised by how much we all have in common! I am realizing that success in any field is fostered through a combination of passion, talent, education, perseverance, and timing. I feel fortunate to participate in conversations with colleagues whose passions and values align with my own. I am also grateful that Sasha and I are on this journey together this year; I love the way she sees our world and learn greatly from the questions she asks. I am excited to see what the future holds for us both.
SF Ballet Backstage
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