Andrea Virgin didn't set out to become a civil engineer or the leader of a major arts nonprofit. But after the 2008 recession hit her dance company, she traded her pointe shoes for a hard hat and built a new career in engineering—only to face devastating loss when her husband TJ died when their daughter was 4 months old. In this episode of She Pivots, Andrea shares how she rebuilt her life (twice), the surprising boardroom idea that grew into her current mission, her role Chair and CEO of The Center for Arts and Innovation in Boca Raton, and why creativity is necessary at all stages of life.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to She Pivots

02:22 Childhood Memories and Early Dance Training

06:50 Cultural Influences and Family Dynamics

07:37 Balancing Dance and Engineering Studies

14:29 The 2008 Recession's Impact on the Arts

17:54 Pivoting to Civil Engineering

19:38 The Personal: Dating and Relationships

23:51 The Fateful Plane Crash

31:25 Navigating Grief and New Beginnings

37:03 Personal and Professional Growth

43:56 The Birth of a Creative Vision

52:01 Lessons from Andrea's Journey

57:39 Closing Thoughts

58:33 Podcast Production Credits

Keep up with Andrea’s work at The Center at thecenterforartsandinnovation.org

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She Pivots is a podcast created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight influential women voices, share stories of bold career moves, and inspire women with interviews about career reinvention and how personal pivots can redefine professional success.

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