Week Notes (2 June - 8 June)
A leap into the unknown
Launched my new company this week - felt quite nervous but also excited. After reflecting, thinking and getting over some imposter syndrome I decided to set up by myself. And The Knighton Group was born.
My ambition is to help arts and cultural organisations reach audiences. There’s so much opportunity to engage audiences, to generate new revenue and digital provides a fantastic way to do it.
It can be intimindating, scary and a leap into the unknown but that’s what the arts are so fantastic at doing. Through The Knighton Group I can help more organisations to think about how they can engage audiences digitally, and support them in delivering on their ambitions. I bring a wealth of experience from the last 15 years and can support organisations of all size. I work with senior leaders to ensure the strategic and practical delivery is aligned with the organisational mission.
The feedback, support and encouragement from people has been amazing. Thank you so much to everyone for their positivity and I hope I’ll have an opportunity to work with lots of you in the future.
I’ll be posting updates on here about my work so please do subscribe if you’re interested in hearing more.
The wonderful Ash Mann hosted the first webinar to accompany his Beyond the Promise report on digital failure. It was great to hear more about the findings of the report and looking forward to the upcoming webinars. He did a fantastic job of speaking into the void during an online webinar, there’s nothing worse that not knowing if people are listening or paying attention.
I joined a One Dance UK webinar on Performance Anxiety with Dr Berenice Beverley Zammit. I attended in my role as Board member. It was a fascinating session about strategies to cope with anxiety and applicable far beyond performance anxiety. Interesting to learn more about the connection between our stress response and anxiety response. Also joined my first Financial Committee meeting for One Dance UK. Using my brain in a completely different way and discussing how best to support the organisation and the team through the challenging economic times.
A lovely start to the week as the weather was better and I was able to get outside and walk. I’m liking that within my freelance set up I can do the school run each morning, walk to school and take the long way home. Making sure I get in my steps, I’m moving my body, getting some fresh air and reconnecting with nature. It’s helping my frame of mind, it’s giving me thinking time, its making me more productive when I come to work. Do not under estimate the value of a good walk to start the day.
Had the most wonderfully relaxing birthday, spending time with my family and celebrating being another year older!
Watching / Listening / Reading
📖 Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra. Thanks to Sara Bakhaty for the wonderful book.
It’s a really fascinating read at any point in your career, but even more so during a time of transition. It’s unconventional because it recommends action, over reflection. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who is changing careers or feels stuck and wants a new perspective on their professional journey.
📺 Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime Video. I wasn’t a Clarkson fan, but I do think this programme does a lot to highlight the challenges of farming life.
Also realised I don’t seem to be getting my Harvard Business Review emails so seriously lacking in articles. I’ve followed up with them so hopefully it will be sorted soon.
Roles
General Manager (FTC)
📍Location: Bush Theatre
💰Salary: £35,000
📅 Deadline: 8 June 2025
📍Location: South Bank Centre
💰Salary: £65,000
📅 Deadline: 11 June 2025
Director of Development & Enterprise
📍Location: BALTIC, Gateshead
💰Salary: £70-75,000
📅 Deadline: 7 July 2025
Back again next week with another update.
Congrats on the new venture Emma! Am sure it'll be fab x