#208: Sonia Winner (Cleveland Museum of Natural History) — $150m Centennial Transformation

Sonia Winner is the CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. In July 2018, she became the 10th director of the Museum in its more than 100-year history, dating back to 1920. Since then, she has spearheaded a $150 million reinvention of the institution—reimagining its campus and exhibits to highlight the interconnectedness of life on Earth.

Under her leadership, the Museum continues its century-long legacy as one of the nation’s top natural history institutions, stewarding over 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems and housing more than 5 million artifacts and specimens. It is supported by a nearly 60-member Board of Directors, 140 staff members, and approximately $282 million in assets.

Before joining CMNH, Sonia built an impressive career in higher education and philanthropy. At Columbia University, she led record-breaking fundraising efforts, helping to secure $6.1 billion for the university. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Case Western Reserve University, serving as associate dean of both the Weatherhead School of Management and the School of Law. A lawyer by training, she also served as Director of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.

This was an amazing conversation! Sonia’s passion for this work shines through as we explore the transformative power of museums, cultivating childhood curiosity, the Museum’s rich history and legacy, her personal journey to leading a major cultural institution, the ambitious centennial project aimed at revitalizing the museum experience, the overall business of museums, and so much more.

00:00:00 – The Magic of Museums and Childhood Curiosity  
00:06:59 – Personal Reflections on Museums and Nature  
00:09:07 – Sonia's Journey to the Museum Leadership  
00:16:42 – Understanding the Cleveland Museum of Natural History  
00:17:02 – The Museum's Legacy and Community Impact  
00:19:56 – Honoring History While Embracing Change  
00:25:50 – The Centennial Project and Its Vision  
00:31:52 – The Business of Museums: Challenges and Opportunities  
00:35:15 – Balancing Accessibility and Sustainability in Museums  
00:36:28 – Creating Memorable Visitor Experiences  
00:37:38 – Dinosaurs: The Gateway to Natural History  
00:40:45 – The Role of Museums in Scientific Literacy  
00:45:22 – Trust in Museums: A Reflection of Society  
00:47:41 – Understanding the Value of Local Museums  
00:50:04 – Personal Stories and the Impact of Museums  
00:52:03 – The Future of Museums: Programming and Community Engagement  
00:53:13 – Leadership Lessons in the Museum Sector  
00:56:43 – Women in Leadership: Challenges and Opportunities  
00:57:27 – Hidden Gem 

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LINKS:
https://www.cmnh.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-winner-2699123/

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Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}