Kerstin Mogull

You hold quite a few positions at the moment but can you describe a few of them and what they entail?

Since leaving Tate I’ve taken on a number of non-executive roles and made a series of investments in promising start-ups. I like the variety of business activities and challenges, as well as sharing with emergent companies some of things I’ve learned as a leader in more established organizations. 

On Monday I may be advising on media investments in markets where independent media is under threat, in my board role at the Media Development Investment Fund.  MDIF was an early supporter of journalist Maria Ressa, winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, and right now we’re providing ongoing support to Liga.net, our main client in Ukraine, now facing relentless cyber-attacks.

On Tuesday I might be discussing sustainability objectives with the board of Colart (a subsidiary of Lindéngruppen). On Wednesday I could be considering market positioning strategies with board colleagues at The New European, a British weekly newspaper with a unique blend of pro-European politics and culture.  You get the idea: my weeks are certainly varied now!

Can you share a similar reflection of your most recent position as Managing Director at the Tate?

My role as Managing Director at Tate was all about leading people.  I’m not an art specialist, so it was about finding the right people, motivating them, and helping them to deliver.  I don’t believe a leader has to be an expert in any one area: a leader needs to assemble talented teams and realise the potential of those teams.

The same applied to my senior roles in strategy and digital at the BBC.  I’m not a tech expert but I played a leading role in the launch of iPlayer in 2007 by ensuring there was a strong team working across the organization with the right mix of skills.   Another key aspect of leadership is removing obstacles to successful performance, frequently internal ones.  That can be a real issue in large, structured organizations.

What interested you in working in media and the arts?

I’m a big consumer of media -- from news to drama to entertainment -- and it’s stimulating to work in a sector that holds one’s passion.  More than that, though, I’ve long appreciated the power of media to shape attitudes and opinions, and even to drive societal behaviour.  Art isn’t entirely different: it, too, can be an important mirror on society, while also encouraging reflection – even introspection – and relaxation.

What do you find most exciting about the media world at the moment? Where do you see it going in the next 5-10 years?

Today’s media consumer has a lot of choice, with high-quality entertainment available on a plethora of competing platforms.  There’s an abundance of fantastic drama and a flow of new series – we all have our favorites.  Gaming will also continue to grow, particularly for Generation Z who may prefer gaming alongside a streamed narrative (think Arcane or The Witcher).  The common theme here is the power consumers now have to choose.  An organizational challenge, for sure, but an opportunity as well.

Whilst it’s encouraging to see that so many quality news organizations have managed to successfully transition to digital (i.e. quality news will survive), I worry, like many others, about social media, in particular how it can polarize opinion and spread false information very rapidly. We experienced this in the lead-up to the assault on Capitol Hill in 2021.  Social media is frequently the source of news for those who can’t or won’t pay for subscription services, but it can become an echo chamber, reinforcing preconceived notions and views.  In this context, public service media, such as SVT and BBC, play an important role in creating a free and shared source of reliable information, a necessary underpinning of democracy.

When did you begin your athletic career and how has it affected your professional career (or vice versa)?

I’ve always enjoyed sport: it helps me recharge.  A run can be a wonderful way of processing what has happened at work.  Sport also creates an appreciation of commitment and consistency: it’s all about focusing on the process, with the confidence that goals will follow. During the last few years, I’ve competed in age group triathlon at European and World Championship levels. I’ve had the good fortune to win a number of these competitions, and in 2021 recorded the best ever time in my age group in Ironman 70.3 (although I’d prefer to call it an Ironwoman competition!). Competing is a bit of a thrill, but it’s also given me the opportunity to visit countries I might not have travelled to otherwise - Romania, Australia, Bahrain, and others.

How did your time at SSE help guide you in your career?  What are two words that sum up your time at SSE?

SSE opened many doors for me, not only in terms of specific jobs and organizations but also the aspiration and opportunity to live and work in many cultures, the openness to new ideas and ways of viewing the world. This has been a fundamental part not only of my career, but of my life.  It’s been enriching in so many ways.  If I could choose just two words to describe what SSE has meant to me (and for me), they would be opportunity and openness.

Do you have any words of wisdom or advice you would like to share with our current students?

Surround yourself with people you respect and trust, whose values you share, and with whom you enjoy spending time – life is too short to spend time with people you don’t like!