What does a museum CFO actually do? Far more than manage budgets. In this episode of the Cultural Animals: Museum Leadership Lab, host Antonio Velasco sits down with Dave Togni, Chief Financial Officer of the Corning Museum of Glass, to unpack what 25 years in museum finance really looks like. From navigating maritime insurance for a traveling glassblowing barge to developing flame-free technology for artists performing on cruise ships, Dave shares how museum finance extends far beyond spreadsheets, along with lessons from leading through COVID-19 and managing major operational change.

The conversation also explores the realities museum leaders face today, including tighter philanthropic markets, reduced international tourism, and the growing importance of marketing and technology investment. Dave shares practical budget benchmarks, insights into board strategy, and why frontline staff may be one of the most overlooked drivers of financial success, offering a candid look at what it takes to sustain and grow a modern museum.

Thank you for joining us on this journey and being part of today's conversation. If this episode inspired you or made you curious to learn more, please like and subscribe to the Cultural Animals: Museum Leadership Lab podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Don't forget to follow Veevart on LinkedIn, Meta, and X for our latest stories, topics, and updates about future episodes. Thanks again for listening, and as always, stay curious. All the links are in the description below.

In this episode of Cultural Animals: Museum Leadership Lab, we sit down with Adam Smith, President and CEO of Exploration Place, who has led cultural institutions from the National Museums of Scotland to the Comic-Con Museum. Adam shares how he doubled museum attendance while better managing marketing costs and offers practical strategies that any museum leader can use. Learn how to unlock thousands per month in free advertising, master pricing psychology, build high-performing teams, and create a mission-driven culture. From digital marketing breakthroughs to leadership insights, this conversation is full of actionable ideas to help your museum grow, engage more visitors, and thrive in today’s competitive landscape.  

Thank you for joining us on this journey and being part of today's conversation. If this episode inspired you or made you curious to learn more, please like and subscribe to the Cultural Animals: Museum Leadership Lab podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Don't forget to follow Veevart on LinkedIn, Meta, and X for our latest stories, topics, and updates about future episodes. Thanks again for listening, and as always, stay curious. All the links are in the description below.

Welcome to the premiere episode of Culture Animals: Museum Leadership Lab! 
Are you a museum director, department head, or cultural institution leader struggling with operational efficiency, declining attendance, or board pressure to modernize? This conversation is for you. 

Antonio Velasco, CEO of Veevart, sits down with Nik Honeysett, CEO of the Balboa Park Online Collaborative (BPOC), a nonprofit consultancy specializing in museum digital transformation and strategic planning. A leading voice in museum innovation, Nik has held senior roles at The J. Paul Getty Museum and UK-based CogApp, working with over 140 museums on technology implementation, organizational transformation, and sustainable operations.

What we will discuss: 

• Why treating "nonprofit" as a mindset (not tax status) is holding museums back. 
• The dual obligation every museum owes its community (social AND financial).
• How to unlock a full FTE of productivity through better systems.
• Why disconnected systems are killing your revenue and efficiency.
• The 3-phase innovation roadmap: Efficiency → Sustaining → Growth.
• How the Bovington Tank Museum generates £3M in digital revenue.
• Leadership principles that separate thriving museums from struggling ones.
• Why you should hire people smarter than you (and how to do it).
• How to gain board buy-in for technology investments.
• AI strategy for museums: policy first, platform second.
• The real definition of museum success (it's not what you think).

Thank you for joining us on this journey and being part of today's conversation. If this episode inspired you or made you curious to learn more, please like and subscribe to the Cultural Animals: Museum Leadership Lab podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Don't forget to follow Veevart on LinkedIn, Meta, and X for our latest stories, topics, and updates about future episodes. Thanks again for listening, and as always, stay curious. All the links are in the description below.