In this episode of When Art Meets Leadership, I welcome Aliki Zachariadis, Head of Marketing and Digital Division at Philharmonie Luxembourg.

After spending 20 years in London working across cosmetics, fashion, luxury, and spirits, Aliki returned to Luxembourg and entered a very different world: a public cultural institution built around music, education, and accessibility.

Our conversation explores how she brought the mindset of international consumer brands into the Philharmonie without losing sight of its artistic mission. Aliki shares the thinking behind the institution’s bold rebranding, including a campaign that confronted perceptions of classical music as “boring” and “elitist.”

We also discuss why rebranding is about much more than changing a logo. It involves understanding your audience, reconsidering every touchpoint, simplifying language, experimenting with new platforms, and making people feel that a cultural institution is genuinely open to them.

Aliki reflects on customer insight, innovation, AI, design thinking, and the importance of testing ideas before perfecting them. She also shares her approach to leadership, building trust within a team, remaining calm under pressure, and balancing a demanding career with raising three children.

What We Cover

• Building a career in marketing across cosmetics, luxury, fashion, and spirits
• Moving from private-sector brands into a public cultural institution
• Challenging perceptions of classical music as boring, serious, or elitist
• Using TikTok, accessible language, and new editorial formats to reach younger audiences
• Creating curated subscriptions that encourage people to discover unfamiliar music
• Using AI to support recommendations, programming, and audience engagement
• Bringing music and gastronomy together through the WeChef project
• Applying startup thinking and design thinking inside a public institution
• Why customer insight matters more than becoming attached to one idea
• Combining artistic excellence with accessibility and inclusion
• Remaining calm on the outside while managing pressure behind the scenes
• Balancing motherhood, career, boundaries, and competing priorities
• Why being gentle with yourself is essential during periods of transition

Relevant Links

• Learn more about Philharmonie Luxembourg: https://www.philharmonie.lu/
• Follow Philharmonie Luxembourg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philharmonie_lux/
• Follow Philharmonie Luxembourg on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philharmonie_lux
• Connect with Aliki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliki-zachariadis-9b24a613/
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alina_ignatieva/
• Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2517937.rss

In this episode of When Art Meets Leadership, I sit down with Ann Muller, the creative force behind LUGA – Luxembourg Urban Gardens. We explore how a six-year journey transformed public spaces across Luxembourg and what it takes to lead a project that brings together artists, architects, government institutions, communities, and more than 1,000 contributors.

This conversation goes beyond urban gardens. We talk about leadership, resilience, curiosity, and the power of seeing what is often overlooked. Ann shares her unconventional career path, the lessons she learned from working across art, culture, government, and public projects, and why meaningful change often starts with the smallest details.

What We Cover

• How Ann’s journey led her to LUGA
• The idea behind “Making the Invisible Visible”
• Why nature and public spaces matter more than we think
• Building and leading large interdisciplinary projects
• The importance of neutrality and trust in leadership
• Working with stakeholders, institutions, and government
• Learning by doing and embracing uncertainty
• Resilience, curiosity, and lifelong learning
• The role of family as a source of strength
• What leaders can learn from artists, architects, and urban planners
• The lasting legacy of LUGA
• Advice for young people who want to create meaningful work

Relevant Links

• Learn more about LUGA: https://luga.lu/
• Connect with Ann Muller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-muller-478b57239/
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alina_ignatieva/
• Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2517937.rss

In this episode of When Art Meets Leadership, I sit down with Lea, founder of Avantgarde Vision, to explore what happens when business strategy meets the creative world.

We talk about the hidden challenges creatives face today, from fragmented networks and unstable careers to the pressure of visibility in the age of AI and social media. Lea shares how her background in systems thinking and business led her to build Avantgarde Vision, a platform designed to help creatives build sustainable careers beyond geography, gatekeeping, and short-term trends.

This conversation is about much more than art. It is about innovation, human connection, leadership, and what organizations can learn from the way artists think, create, and adapt.

What We Cover

• Why Europe’s creative industries remain deeply fragmented
• The problem with building careers around physical location
• Why talent alone is not enough for long-term success
• The difference between viral success and sustainable careers
• What businesses can learn from artists about innovation and creativity
• The importance of professionalism in creative work
• How AI is changing the future of art and human expression
• What policymakers misunderstand about supporting creatives
• The difference between curating talent and gatekeeping access
• Why creative careers need long-term support, not just project funding

Relevant Links

• Learn more about Avantgarde Vision: https://home.avantgardevisionlux.lu/
• Connect with Lea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-hermesdorf-36129419b/
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alina_ignatieva/
• Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2517937.rss
  
  

In this first episode of When Art Meets Leadership, I sit down with artist, photographer, and art director Anna Krieps in her studio in Luxembourg. We explore how the artist’s way of thinking can shape how we lead, create, and innovate, whether in business or in life.

This conversation goes beyond art. We talk about trusting your ideas, staying true to your path, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in a world that constantly pushes you to follow trends. Anna shares her journey, her creative process, and the lessons that come from choosing expression over conformity.

What We Cover

• How art became Anna’s language of expression
• Where ideas come from and why they take time
• The role of freedom and family support
• What businesses can learn from the creative process
• Staying authentic instead of following trends
• The discipline behind creative work
• Representation of women in art
• Social media and validation
• The impact of AI on creativity
• What it means to create something real

Relevant Links

• Learn more about Anna and her work https://www.annakrieps.com/
• Connect with Anna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna_krieps/
• Learn more about Vicky’s work: https://vickykrieps.com/
• The Family of Man by Edward J. Steichen https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/family-man
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alina_ignatieva/
• Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2517937.rss

What can a museum director teach me about leadership?
Or a Michelin-level chef about building high-performance teams?

When Art Meets Leadership is where I explore the space where creativity and leadership collide, and what that means for how we lead today.

I’m Alina Ignatieva, leadership advisor, executive coach, and lifelong lover of the arts. I created this podcast because I believe the art world holds powerful lessons on leadership, yet we rarely hear from the people behind the scenes of the most inspiring cultural institutions.

In each episode, I sit down with leaders across the art world, from museum directors and gallery founders to chefs, conductors, curators, and more, to uncover what it really takes to lead in high-performance creative environments.

We talk about:
– leading teams driven by inspiration
– balancing artistic freedom with structure
– energy, vision, and the human side of leadership

Because the way artists lead has more to teach us than we think.

If you're a leader, a creative, or simply curious about how exceptional work comes to life, you're in the right place.

New episodes drop every second Tuesday.
The first episode launches on April 14.

Subscribe now and join me as I explore how leading with heart and vision can create something truly extraordinary.

Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alina_ignatieva/