Leadership Journeys: Jason Andreasen from Baton Rouge Gallery
In our Leadership Journeys series, we’re profiling Baton Rouge-area leaders. We’re sharing where local leaders find inspiration and what decisions they’ve made on their leadership journey.George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic was just the kick Jason Andreasen was looking for when trying to decide on a career. Jason and his wife, Lily, moved to Baton Rouge right after their honeymoon. Jason was planning on pursuing law school and becoming a criminal prosecutor. “But one thing led to another and I ended up doing some entertainment journalism, interviewing George Clinton from Parliament Funkadelic, and ultimately realizing I wanted to spend my life in the arts,” he says.In late 2007, he began working with the Baton Rouge Gallery, located inside BREC’s City Park, as the special events coordinator. About six months later, the gallery’s director, Amelia Cox, made a move overseas, and he was named the nonprofit gallery’s executive director. “I wanted to do something that would help artists reach people and help people be reached by the arts. There’s such a rush when you find something — a sculpture, a song, a painting, a film, whatever — that connects with you on either an intellectual or visceral level, and it’s a rush I wanted to help others find.”
Learning From Others
Andreasen, who was chosen for this year’s 40 Under 40 Award, says he feels new ideas and insights can come from just about any source. “I’m a big believer in ‘everything is an influence,’” he says. “We are the product of our experiences and relationships, good and bad, and how we respond to them. Typically people think about what has influenced them and immediately go to the people or experiences that have positive memories attached to them. I’ve learned at least as much from watching others and thinking, ‘That’s what I don’t want to do,’ as I have the opposite. If you’re paying attention, someone can serve as an invaluable mentor — usually without even being aware of it — by showing you what to stay far, far away from.Andreasen says journalist Samantha Morgan helped him in his writing days, along with Cox, who showed him the ropes at Baton Rouge Gallery and taught him a lot in a short amount of time. “But I’d like to think I pick up things from most people I have substantive interactions with, even if neither of us are aware of it at the time.”
Challenge Makes Leaders
Andreasen says he tries to maintain perspective when faced with challenges — which is often, because that’s what leadership is, he says. “There have been a number of times where I’ve looked at my own to-do list and attempted to hyper-focus on them to try to check off each line. But, as my wife ever-so-gently would remind me, I’m a leader in an organization as well as a leader in my family and in my own life,” he says. “These things are not mutually exclusive and none can be ignored at the expense of the other. If I forget that, my ability to succeed in each of those roles suffers. But I admit there are times it isn’t easy to remember that and that there are absolutely times that hyper-focus is necessary.”Being present and paying attention with ears, eyes and mouth is perhaps the most important thing a leader can do, he says. “Listening to those around you about what they see is working and what isn’t is a big one. Seeing the faults and the fruits of your efforts with your own eyes is really important in not only making improvements but staying motivated and inspired to push things forward. As for ‘mouth,’ I think communicating what is important, why it is important and helping others share and foster passion is a fantastic trait for leaders to have and one that can be informed by your ears and eyes.”Looking for ways to build leaders at your organization? Contact us to learn about our leadership development and coaching offerings.Success Labs is a leadership development and management consulting firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more than 25 years, our expert team of consultants has worked with hundreds of companies to explore their business potential and improve their company and cultural performance. Contact us to get proactive about your people strategy.
