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CI to Eye with Monica Holt CI to Eye with Monica Holt

CI to Eye with Monica Holt

Join host Monica Holt for meaningful interviews with executives, artists, and experts across industries. Together with Monica, we’ll explore the way innovation, leadership, and joy drive our industry forward.

Have an episode topic or guest idea? Pitch us your idea!

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Featured Episodes

Kendra Whitlock Ingram on Building Arts-Fueled Cities
EP 144

Aug 14, 2025


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Kendra Whitlock Ingram on Building Arts-Fueled Cities

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.

Clive Chang on Innovation and the Rise of the Multi‑Hyphenate Artist
EP 144

Aug 07, 2025


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Clive Chang on Innovation and the Rise of the Multi‑Hyphenate Artist

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.

Explore Episodes


Monica Holt On Curiosity, Leadership, and Evita
EP 143

Jul 10, 2025


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Monica Holt On Curiosity, Leadership, and Evita

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.

Bridging the Marketing-Development Divide
EP 142

May 29, 2025


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Bridging the Marketing-Development Divide

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. They reveal the tools and tactics that keep their teams aligned, the hurdles they’ve worked through, and what any organization can do to build stronger alignment between marketing and development.

Political Shifts and Cultural Stakes of 2025
EP 141

Apr 30, 2025


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Political Shifts and Cultural Stakes of 2025

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.

What Zoos Can Teach Us About Exceptional Guest Experiences
EP 140

Mar 27, 2025


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What Zoos Can Teach Us About Exceptional Guest Experiences

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 practical strategies for delivering wildly good experiences that turn visitors into raving (and returning) fans.

The Fight for Inclusion (Re-Release)
EP 139

Feb 27, 2025


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The Fight for Inclusion (Re-Release)

As we face growing political tensions in the U.S. and unprecedented government interference in arts and culture programming, sustaining our commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility (DEIBA) is more critical than ever. Recent executive actions have limited resources for our industry and further silenced historically excluded voices in our field. As these challenges mount, we must find new ways to advocate, collaborate, and ensure our work remains inclusive.

This episode revisits a powerful conversation with Dr. Evelyn Carter from June 2023 about what it takes to uphold DEIBA commitments when the going gets tough. Dr. Carter shares heartening advice and actionable strategies for arts and cultural administrators to meet this moment with purpose and resilience.

Words of Inspiration To Power 2025
EP 135

Jan 28, 2025


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Words of Inspiration To Power 2025

In this episode, we revisit some of the most powerful insights from last year’s guests to inspire and guide the year ahead. This isn’t just a look back—it’s a call to action for our industry. Listen as fourteen cultural leaders remind us why the arts matter and how we can continue to push boundaries, build connections, and lead with purpose.

Purpose-Driven Leadership in Uncertain Times
EP 137

Dec 19, 2024


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Purpose-Driven Leadership in Uncertain Times

The end of the year is a busy time for arts administrators, packed with holiday campaigns and fundraising deadlines. With so much happening, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. So today we’re taking a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our “why.”

In this episode, we revisit a popular Boot Camp 2024 conversation with CI President Priya Iyer Doshi and Terri Freeman, President of The Lewis Museum, about purpose-driven leadership and the resilience of our industry. Then, we ask arts administrators to reflect on their year and what’s fueling their passion in 2025. It will leave you feeling grounded, inspired, and ready to tackle what’s ahead.

Why Audiences Aren’t Coming Back and How to Fix It
EP 133

Nov 21, 2024


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Why Audiences Aren’t Coming Back and How to Fix It

In today’s post-pandemic world, keeping our audiences engaged and organizations financially healthy can feel like an uphill battle. Changing audience behaviors have disrupted traditional marketing strategies, and high churn rates among first-time visitors, subscribers, and donors are slowing revenue growth. But what if there’s a way forward that breaks from the traditional playbook?

In this episode, CI President Priya Iyer Doshi sits down with industry leader Aubrey Bergauer to discuss her new book, Run It Like A Business. Aubrey draws inspiration from outside the arts to rethink how organizations can boost relevance, drive revenue, and better serve our communities. Discover how adapting for-profit strategies for non-profit goals can help move your organization forward.

BONUS: A Continuation, Not a Phase
EP 135

Oct 29, 2024


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BONUS: A Continuation, Not a Phase

In this episode, we’ll share never-before-aired insights on how to hold your organization accountable to its mission and goals around representation, access, and equity, from a conversation recorded earlier this year between CI’s VP, Managing Director Christopher Williams and Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Rachel Hagemeier.


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