What questions remain when the old answers fade?

I support cultural institutions, universities and foundations in finding coherence through transformation – as a consultant, coach and keynote speaker. As a professor of Arts and Media Management at HfMT Hamburg, I teach and learn with the next generation.

Hello.

What interests me – as a researcher and as a practitioner – is the question of how leadership, strategy and organisational development can succeed when familiar certainties collapse. How do organisations navigate transformation without losing what matters most?

I have been exploring these questions for more than 15 years: at the university, in my consulting and coaching work, and in over 100 podcast conversations with artists, cultural leaders and academics across Europe.

-> kontakt@martinzierold.de

Working with me

Consulting & Process Design

I advise organisations in the arts, culture and higher education on strategy and organisational development – from designing participatory processes to providing subject-matter expertise on questions of societal impact and cultural leadership..

Coaching

As a trained systemic coach, I work with leaders in the cultural and academic sector who seek clarity and agency in complex situations. I bring more than 15 years of leadership experience of my own.

I give keynotes and talks on leadership in times of transformation, cultural leadership and organisational change. I also work as a respondent and critical friend at conferences – synthesising contributions and turning them into impulses for further work.

Keynotes & Conference Facilitation

I design and facilitate workshops and training programmes, both as standalone formats and as part of larger consulting processes, always tailored to the specific needs of the organisation.

Workshops & Trainings

Podcast: Wie geht's? Culture in Times of Transformation

More than 100 conversations with artists, cultural managers, policymakers and academics about leadership, culture, society and change. Since 2020.
A number of episodes are in English – find all of them here:
https://wiegehts-kultur.de/tag/english/

Bionotes & Photos

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(c) Christina Körte – Free to use

English (short version)

Martin Zierold holds a professorship in Arts and Media Management at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, Germany, and works as a freelance keynote speaker, consultant and coach for cultural organisations. In his podcast "Wie geht's?" he has been hosting conversations on culture in transformation since 2020, including episodes in English.

www.martinzierold.de/eng/ | www.linkedin.com/in/mzierold/

English (long version)

Martin Zierold holds a professorship in Arts and Media Management at the Institute for Arts and Media Management at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, Germany. From 2017 to 2025, he held the Zajadacz Endowed Professorship for Innovation through Digitalisation. He served as head of the institute for two consecutive terms from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was Professor of Arts Management and Cultural Studies at Karlshochschule International University and Academic Manager of the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC) at the University of Giessen. From 2006 to 2007, he worked as press spokesman for the Tonkünstler Orchestra and the Grafenegg International Music Festival in Austria.

He also works as a freelance keynote speaker, consultant and coach for cultural institutions, universities and foundations. He is the initiator of the Cultural Leadership Fellowship Programme and has been hosting the podcast "Wie geht's? Culture in Times of Transformation" since 2020, with more than 100 conversations on culture and society in times of change, including episodes in English.
Martin Zierold is a member of the board of the Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft (German Association for Cultural Policy), a member of the selection committee of the KAIROS Award of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation F.V.S. and a member of the advisory board on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions of the German Commission for UNESCO.

www.martinzierold.de/eng/ | www.linkedin.com/in/mzierold/