Mary Ittelson

Bio

Mary Ittelson founded Ittelson Consulting in 1996 to provide strategic planning, governance and leadership counsel to arts, cultural and business organizations. Her clients include museums, theaters, dance companies, foundations, corporations and government agencies. Among her recent engagements are governance transition planning and strategic goal setting for an international private equity investment fund, long-range planning for a medical services corporation, and interim leadership support for a major arts agency. Ms. Ittelson’s previous consulting experience was at McKinsey & Company, where she served a variety of Fortune 500 companies.

At Stanford University Ms. Ittelson is a Lecturer in the Graduate School of Business, where she co-teaches a newly developed MBA course entitled “Leadership in the Arts and Creative Industries”. She will be a 2017 Fellow in the Distinguished Career Institute.

A leader and manager in the cultural sector, Ms. Ittelson served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) from 2008–2012 and has chaired numerous MCA initiatives including the Strategic Planning Committee and the Access, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. She was the MCA Associate Director for eight years, responsible for all business aspects as well as for overseeing the new museum building and expansion project.

Prior to launching her management career, Ms. Ittelson was a professional dancer and choreographer. She was Assistant Professor of Theatre at Northwestern University from 1979–1983, and was elected to the Faculty Honor Roll. Additionally, she served as Executive Director of Crossroads, Inc., a New York-based company of dancers and musicians. Her choreography garnered a Music and Dance Fellowship at the American Dance Festival, and was performed at The Juilliard School, New York University, Northwestern University and Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors.

Ms. Ittelson earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1985, a BA in Choreography from New York University in 1979, and studied dance at The Juilliard School. She serves on the Stanford University Arts Advisory Council, the City of Chicago Cultural Advisory Council and the Board of Directors of Ingenuity, Inc.

Academic Appointments

• Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2016-present
• Assistant Professor, Theatre at Northwestern University. 1979-1983

Teaching

Degree Courses

2017-18

STRAMGT 539: Leadership in the Arts and Creative Industries

Leaders of arts and creative organizations face unique challenges. Taking the perspective of the CEO, Chairman of the Board and Artistic/Creative Director, and drawing on various cases and in-class exercises, students will learn about advancing...

2016-17

STRAMGT 539: Leadership in the Arts and Creative Industries

Leaders of arts and creative organizations face unique challenges. Taking the perspective of the CEO, Chairman of the Board and Artistic/Creative Director, and drawing on various cases and in-class exercises, students will learn about advancing...