Mastering the Art of Business

Colleen Smith (MBA ’02) Executive Director | Theatre Calgary
Colleen Smith (MBA ’02)

Mastering the Art of Business

After teaching high school music in New Brunswick for a number of years Colleen Smith decided to move to Toronto to pursue her MBA at Schulich School of Business with a focus on Arts and Media Administration. “Even though I have an arts background, I hadn’t realized the extent of my own creativity until I entered the Schulich MBA program,” says Colleen. “The environment is ripe with opportunities to challenge yourself, extend your ability to think beyond your own experiences, and develop an entrepreneurial spirit that will so wonderfully guide you to success no matter what field you choose.”

Toward the end of her first year in the MBA program Colleen saw a posting on the Arts & Media job board for the Program Manager – Learning Through the Arts at The Royal Conservatory of Music. Feeling the position was a perfect fit for her background and current studies, and learning she could switch from full-time to part-time studies, she applied.

That first administrative position led Colleen on an impressive career path from The Royal Conservatory (and the completion of her MBA studies part-time) to the Director of Finance and Education at Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir; to Managing Director of Factory Theatre; to Director of Operations at The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thompson Hall to her current role as Executive Director, Theatre Calgary.

Colleen continues to thrive on new challenges and experiences. She takes her entrepreneurial spirit and her unwavering enthusiasm to each new challenge. “I am very thankful for Schulich’s Arts and Media program – and its leaders – as it has opened up a whole new world for me.”