Gisela Flanigan

Bio

Gisela Flanigan is cultural entrepreneur and arts advocate consultant, deeply committed to social change and collective impact in the nonprofit world. Her expertise is based on the intersection of leadership, management, and arts advocacy. .

Education

Gisela holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Miami and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas.

Professional Background

Gisela currently serves as Executive Director of Sistema Global, an award-winning social change organization inspired to expand access to music making as a basic human right. Under her leadership, Sistema Global has been selected for three years in a row to be part of the HundrED Global Education Innovation Collection. She is also a Certified Colorado Change Leader and a member of the International Music Education Policy Group advancing global policy dialogue in music education.

An expert in the intersection of leadership, management, and arts advocacy, Gisela has reviewed programs and grants for organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, and HundrED, Finland. She is regularly invited to speak at national and international conferences for organizations such as El Sistema World Conference, Virtual Concert Halls broadcast (Sound Espressivo), The Music, Business, and Peace Summit at Indiana University, Sphinx Connect, the College Music Society, and the Imagine IF… Festival in honor of Sir Ken Robinson. As a HundrED Academy member and Advisory Board member, she participated in the review of the HundrED Spotlight on Teachers for a Changing World in partnership with the World Bank Group.

Helping Students Be Successful

Gisela brings her comprehensive teaching background, non-profit leadership, and management expertise to the classroom in the Arts and Culture Management program. From critical analysis of art history to creative cultural placemaking and belonging themes, her firm belief in the profound impact of the arts and culture in society permeates her teaching style. Gisela is her students’ best advocate and designs her classes and learning activities to apply theory to real-life application and actively helps build a comprehensive arts and culture toolkit for her students.