“Curiosity is a blessing and a curse.” Manal Ataya on why curiosity became an essential trait in navigating her career as museum director.

Episode 36 May 19, 2021 00:39:06
“Curiosity is a blessing and a curse.” Manal Ataya on why curiosity became an essential trait in navigating her career as museum director.
The Lighthouse Conversations
“Curiosity is a blessing and a curse.” Manal Ataya on why curiosity became an essential trait in navigating her career as museum director.

May 19 2021 | 00:39:06

/

Show Notes

In our first episode since Ramadan break, Hashem is joined by Manal Ataya who, as the Director General of Sharjah Museum Authority, sits at the helm of 16 museums documenting and consolidating the cultural heritage of the region. They discuss the “inner workings” of a museum director and why Manal finds curiosity and hunger for knowledge so essential to success in her field. They also talk about the subject of mental health which sits at the forefront of the post pandemic era. Manal speaks candidly about her own personal struggle with anxiety and being diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). She reveals that the book “First, We Make the Beast Beautiful” helped inspire a change of perspective for her to not only embrace some of the positive outcomes of an anxious mind, but also use it to her advantage as a tool that fuels her productivity.

Other Episodes

Episode 13

May 14, 2020 00:40:11
Episode Cover

Hashem Montasser and Hany Bassiouny on adapting The Lighthouse’s strategy for the post-Covid-19 era and why thought-leadership in F&B is more pressing than ever

We’re going behind the scenes this week with the Lighthouse’s Hashem Montasser & Hany Bassiouny who speak with producer Chirag Desai about how they’re...

Listen

Episode 25

November 05, 2020 00:43:26
Episode Cover

“I'm not going to measure somebody by whether or not they've had a show at the MoMA,” Maya Allison on her curatorial techniques and how she forged a successful artist-curator bond ahead of the UAE Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale

In this week’s episode, Hashem, a long-time art enthusiast & collector, is joined by Maya Allison, Executive Director & Chief Curator of NYUAD’s Art...

Listen

Episode 1

November 20, 2019 00:21:23
Episode Cover

Pre opening diaries

A special prequel episode from the team of The Lighthouse Conversations podcast, which will focus on the regional arts, culture & entrepreneurial landscape. At...

Listen