Kathryn Heidemann
Cleveland Institute of Art
Education: Master’s degree in arts management, Carnegie Mellon University; bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary arts and performing arts management, Columbia College Chicago
Historic Figure Who Inspires Me: Sarah Kimball and Harriet Kester, CIA’s illustrious founder and first president, respectively. They were trailblazers of their time, and I am honored to serve as CIA’s first female president in more than 100 years.
Most Important Leadership Quality: Empathy, and a strong dash of humor
If I Could Have Any Other Job: I'd probably be an industrial designer. I love the balance of arts/design and engineering/science — it’s so “STEAM-y”! But I had no idea that this was an academic major or career path until I was older.
Hobby/Passion: Playing bass guitar in rock bands, which I’ve done since the late ’90s. I haven’t yet started or joined a band since moving to Cleveland but want to!
What I'd Tell 16-Year-Old Me: You will get over Kurt Cobain’s death. I promise! And he will live on through his music (Nirvana) for decades to come.
If I Could Relive One Moment: The moment I gave birth and became a mother. I now have two boys, ages 14 and (nearly) 11, but becoming a mother for the first time was absolutely surreal, breathtaking, life-changing and beautiful.