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!”
Hobby/Passion: Playing bass guitar in rock bands, which I’ve done since the late ’90s
What I’d Tell 16-Year-Old Me: You will get over Kurt Cobain’s death. I promise!
If I Could Relive One Moment: The moment I gave birth and became a mother. I now have two boys, ages 15 and 12, but becoming a mother for the first time was absolutely surreal, breathtaking, life-changing and beautiful.