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Matthew Swann – Why playing it safe is the biggest risk of all
Matthew Swann is director of the BBC Concert Orchestra which performs for millions of listeners and viewers around the world, across radio, television and digital platforms.
His career as an arts executive, producer and curator has taken him through some of the UK’s most influential cultural organisations, including the Roundhouse and the City of London Sinfonia.
At the BBC, he has helped broaden the orchestra’s reach through innovative programming, blending classical repertoire with jazz, film scores and collaborations with artists including Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Gary Barlow.
In Episode 83 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Matthew tells Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi how leadership in a modern cultural institution extends far beyond the narrow confines of a single discipline like music.
He discusses balancing artistic ambition with commercial realities, the importance of collaboration and why leaders should not be afraid to take carefully calculated risks.
“Not every risk will pay off,” says Matthew. “But the danger of not taking the risk is retrenchment and business as usual.”