The Hansen CEW Executive Leadership in the Arts Scholarship was created in partnership with CEW member Jane Hansen AO. It offers one executive woman in the arts sector the opportunity to study an executive-level course of their own choosing, anywhere in the world!
In 2024, Jade McKellar, Chief Customer Officer at the Sydney Opera House, was awarded the Hansen CEW Leaders Program for the Arts Scholarship, and took the opportunity to study at Harvard Business School through the Driving Digital Strategy program in Boston, in the United States.
Having completed her studies, Jade is back in Australia and filled to the brim with new learnings and perspectives. She shared with us some reflections of her scholarship experience, including how it has shaped the way she works today, and her advice to women who may be considering applying for a CEW scholarship.
Why did you apply for this scholarship?
When I applied for the Hansen CEW Executive Leadership in the Arts Scholarship, I was looking for more than professional development. I wanted a reset. I wanted something for me - a moment away from being a mum of two, wife, daughter, sister, friend, boss and colleague. Something indulgent. Something a bit selfish. In a sector shaped by legacy and meaning, I wanted to immerse myself in future facing thinking about digital transformation, value creation and leadership.
Can you describe the experience of attending an executive education course overseas?
The opportunity to study at Harvard Business School through the Driving Digital Strategy program delivered exactly that. Living on campus offered a rare chance to step away from the day to day and fully engage in university life. From breakfast conversations about case studies that sparked new thinking to late night reflections that helped it all sink in (or overnight reflections when jet lag kept me awake). I had the privilege of learning from some of the world’s leading MBA professors, including the brilliant Sunil Gupta and Felix Oberholzer-Gee and others. Their ability to distil complex strategy into sharp, thought-provoking insights was brilliant.
The course itself was intense, energising and deeply relevant. Over the packed week in Boston, I joined sixty-four senior leaders from twenty-seven countries, representing organisations like Miele, Toyota, Chanel and Harley-Davidson and may more.
Together, we explored how digital disruption is reshaping business models and what it truly means to perform and transform. From the value stick, razor and blade model, and network effects, to the importance of fixing the core before scaling innovation including AI, the frameworks were powerful. But the real value came in the provocations: Would the world miss you if you didn’t exist? Are you closing a performance gap or pursuing an opportunity gap? Are you measuring ROI — or what really matters?
How the course will help you with your career as you progress
Being part of such a global, diverse cohort challenged me to think beyond my own organisation and sector. The range of perspectives was a gift, as was the space to reflect on my leadership, sharpen my strategic thinking, and return with fresh tools to create value for our audiences, teams, partners and industry peers. The friendships and professional connections continue, our WhatsApp group is still firing with ideas and discussion.
This experience will shape the next chapter of my career. I can already feel it influencing how I lead, make decisions and think about building team capability. More than anything, it reaffirmed that transformation is not about technology. It’s about people, mindset and purpose.
What would you say to other women considering applying for a CEW scholarship?
Apply! Of my sixty-four classmates, only fourteen were women. It was a powerful reminder of the world beyond my arts bubble, and why organisations like CEW, and the generosity of leaders like Jane Hansen AO, are so vital. Investing in the next generation of female leaders truly matters.
Be bold. You don’t need to be 'ready'. You need to be curious, committed and have a growth mindset. Real leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions and having the courage to act on what you learn. I have no doubt… I’ll be back Harvard...
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The Hansen CEW Executive Leadership in the Arts Scholarship