ESCP London hosts V&A Director of Exhibitions on future of museums
Industry talk builds on ESCP students' work with Cartier and the V&A
ESCP Business School's London Campus hosted Daniel Slater, Director of Exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum, for a guest lecture that explored how museum curation is evolving, and what it means to lead cultural institutions today.
Held on Wednesday 14 January, the session was delivered to students from ESCP’s MSc in Marketing & Creativity and the Master in Management Luxury Management specialisation, linking their academic study directly with one of the UK’s most influential cultural institutions.
The event followed ESCP’s recent collaboration with the V&A, where Master in Management students worked on a live consulting project for Cartier in connection with a major exhibition hosted at the museum.
Following last year’s successful collaboration between Cartier and ESCP, working on the relevance of culture and museums for Gen Z, this year’s talk with the V&A was an opportunity for our students to discover the other side of the brand–museum collaboration. Through an engaging conversation, our students were able to understand how museums maintain curatorial independence while benefiting from the diverse audiences brought by brand collaborations.
Ben VoyerCartier Chaired Professor of Behavioural Science at ESCP Business School
During the session, Slater offered an insider’s perspective on the strategic thinking behind V&A’s major exhibitions, from collaborating with global brands to showcasing emerging voices.
He discussed the balance between curatorial integrity and commercial realities, as well as the long lead times involved in planning exhibitions. He also reflected on the challenge many museums face in attracting younger and more diverse audiences, particularly at a time of ongoing financial pressures across the UK cultural sector.
Museums play an important role as innovation hubs within the UK’s creative industries, which represent around five per cent of national GDP, and contribute to skills development, tourism, and global cultural influence. In his talk, Slater emphasised the human side of curatorial work, highlighting the importance of creativity, teamwork, and relationship-building in cultural leadership.
What I found most interesting about a guest speaker like Daniel Slater, and why his talk felt so relevant for business students, is the way he shows how leadership can be conveyed through a career that might seem unconventional to us. It encourages students to rethink what a management education can lead to, opening doors to industries that might not seem like an obvious or even possible choice.
Daniel’s point about the shared responsibility of museums and influential companies such as Cartier also really stood out. It showed how, as future decision-makers, we can make a real difference in the world. And as an art lover, getting a peek behind the scenes of one of the world’s most renowned museums was really exciting!
Matilda TjäderESCP Master in Management student
The session was organised by Professor Ben Voyer and Professor Chloé Preece as part of the wider hands-on, experiential curriculum delivered across both programmes throughout the year. It marked the first in a series of industry-led talks, projects, and seminars planned for the year, giving students repeated opportunities to engage with organisations beyond the classroom. Through industry speakers, consulting projects, and real-world case studies, students develop a deep understanding of the UK market, while bringing international perspectives and innovative thinking into UK companies through ESCP’s European campus network.
As UK cultural institutions face funding pressures while being asked to deliver greater economic and social impact, conversations like this show the value of closer collaboration with education and business. They create space for fresh thinking, new skills, and future talent to engage directly with the challenges shaping the cultural sector.
For students at the start of their master’s journey, the event offered an inspirational glimpse into creative careers that combine business, cultural heritage, and innovation, as well as how management skills can be applied beyond traditional corporate settings.
ESCP prepares students to lead in international, creative, and fast-evolving sectors. Through partnerships with brands and organisations such as the V&A, the School offers a platform for companies to exchange ideas, explore shared challenges, and engage with emerging international talent, bringing fresh perspectives into their work.
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