127: Leadership Through the Arts with Johann Zietsman

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We are delighted to be speaking with Johann Zietsmann today! Johann is the President and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. He joins us to share his unique and fantastic journey and talk about servant leadership, the philosophy of Ubuntu, and the arts. We even sing a little bit!  </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We hope you enjoy listening to today’s captivating conversation with Johann Zietsmann!</span></p> <p><strong>Bio: Johann Zietsman: </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Born in the 1950s in South Africa, Johann Zietsman grew up under the Apartheid regime and first got involved in the arts as a brass player in his high school band. That led to his lifelong passion for the transformative value and role of the arts in a community.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After serving in the military, he graduated as an architect, and Johann and his wife, Tharrie, moved to Ithaca, New York, where he completed a Master’s degree in music.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After returning to South Africa in 1982, Johann started a 20-year career in various executive arts management positions, including a music school, two orchestras, an opera, and music theatre company, a community arts center, a large multi-theatre performing arts company, and a commercial communications company.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During this time, he was actively involved in the political transformation of his homeland through pioneering work in the arts, resulting in recognition from Mr. Nelson Mandela’s government. As a volunteer, he launched and directed two community youth initiatives, which currently serve about 4000 at-risk children (annually) in townships.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johann and his family moved to the United States when he was recruited in 2002 by the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), based in New York City. Since June 2007 he served as Executive Director of the Mesa Arts