2025-2026 Emerging Leadership Program
Nurturing Excellence in Arts, Culture, and Heritage Leadership
Building on the success of the previous cohort, Business / Arts is pleased to launch the 2025-2026 Emerging Leadership Program—a networking initiative dedicated to fostering and equipping the next generation of senior leaders in Canada’s arts, culture, and heritage sector.
This program will support 13 leaders who are shaping the future of Canada’s cultural landscape, providing them with mentorship and networking to advance their careers.
Key Components
From April 2025 to May 2026, this program will provide career development opportunities for 13 arts leaders across Canada.
Designed for individuals aspiring to senior roles in large arts, culture, and heritage organizations, the program emphasizes mentorship, and knowledge exchange, connecting participants with established leaders from Canada’s largest cultural organizations.
2025 Canadian Arts Summit Participation:
The cohort will launch at the 2025 Canadian Arts Summit, taking place from April 3-5 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with their mentors, engage in Summit programming, and build meaningful networks within the arts community.
Mentorship from Summit Delegates:
Participants will be paired with a mentor from the Canadian Arts Summit delegation for monthly one-on-one sessions. These mentors, senior leaders from prominent cultural organizations, will provide valuable guidance, insights, and support tailored to the participant’s professional goals.
Knowledge-Sharing Sessions:
Throughout the year, participants will engage in quarterly peer-to-peer (P2P) meetings. These sessions will facilitate reciprocal learning, foster collaboration, and enhance leadership skills, creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment.
From left to right: Matt McGeachy, Sonia Sakamoto-Jog, Daniel Mills, Napatsi Folger, Amy Prilika, Aaron Marquise, Lindsey Thomsen, Luc Tellier, Danielle Irvine, Alyssa Fearon, Dorian Cox, Tessa Chan and Sheila Skaiem. Photo: Philip Maglieri.
