Distinguished artist displays business acumen at Goizueta

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) Music Director Robert Spano 09H, Emory Distinguished Artist in Residence, discusses his work as the ASO "CEO" with an audience most interested in that acronym ... students in Goizueta Business School's Leadership Develeopment Program.

Members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) may carry cellos and trumpets to work in lieu of laptops, but the responsibilities of ASO Music Director Robert Spano 09H aren’t unlike those of a company CEO.

Spano, who begins a multiyear appointment as an Emory University Distinguished Artist in Residence this spring, recently shared his thoughts on leadership with students in Goizueta Business School’s Leader Development Program.

The multiple Grammy Award winner sketched an organizational chart of an orchestra on the board as he explained its chain of command. “My job as general is to say, ‘We’re going over that mountain,’” he told the students. “But I need someone to tell me, ‘Here’s the pass.’ I need them to understand what I’m trying to do so they can help me achieve it.”

In his ninth season with the ASO, Spano said his style of leadership is one that “smacks of a democratic system—it’s very participatory. Certain people still have the ultimate judgment call depending on which area. There is a CEO.”

With the exception of his references to Chaos Theory and German author Herman Hesse, Spano could compose a human resources best practices study regarding how to get the most out of one’s workforce. He stressed the importance of communication, respect, trust, clarity of vision, listening, motivating, engaging, and rewarding a group of talented, creative people. Not to mention how to get all 95 musicians to buy into his idea of what makes an orchestra excellent.

In addition to creative direction of the ASO, Spano, who was presented with an honorary degree from Emory in 2009, is responsible for its bottom line. Since his arrival, the orchestra has increased its single ticket and subscription sales while its number of donors has risen by more than 40 percent.

In its efforts to introduce all students to the elements of leadership incorporated into Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA Program, the Leader Development Program launched its pilot program this fall. Under the direction of director Mark Dillard, the school-wide initiative addresses key developmental requirements of students at various levels.—Allison Shirreffs