2024 marked another year of change for zusa. Early in the year, we bid farewell to four team members, some of whom had been with us for over a decade. We knew this would leave gaps in leadership, but we didn’t know exactly how things would unfold. Instead, we embraced the process (as we have always done!). Since our founding in 2021, zusa has adopted a horizontal management model, appointing our CEOs (Chief Enabling Officers) through team nominations. At the heart of zusa is the principle of doing things together, so it’s no surprise that from day one, we’ve had two people share the most important management responsibilities. Our overall team operates within smaller “mini-teams” and working groups, which we call Circles. However, the management team does play a significant role in steering the team and looking ahead. Being part of this team is a responsibility that we take seriously.
In the spring, the formation of a new management team began. Team members nominated one another, and we found ourselves in a unique situation where 5 out of 12 people were involved in these discussions. Egle, Henrieke, Kasia, Sarah, and Serra soon realized that each brought unique expertise to the table—whether in finance, PR, HR, fundraising, or project development-along with immense motivation and belief in our work at zusa. This gave us confidence that a collective approach could work. We presented the proposal for the new management team to the rest of the group and received their consent. After a period of testing, we saw that the new model was the right way to go and suited our needs.
And so, this is zusa’s current management team. For nearly six months now, we’ve met weekly to tackle key questions and plan for the future. However, we have to admit the outlook isn’t as bright as we’d like as funding resources we have foreseen were unfortunately turned down. The civil society sector—especially the arts and culture—isn’t exactly flourishing. Yet, we persist, and we haven’t lost hope. There are promising projects in the pipeline, and we remain optimistic. Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Let’s stay connected—don’t be a stranger. If you’re interested in learning more about how we formed and operate our management team, feel free to reach out!
