Nonprofit Program Manager

As a manager or director in the creative industries, you run the business side of creative work. You might manage a design studio, a film production, an advertising agency or an art organization. Your job is to lead the team, plan projects, manage the money, keep clients happy and make sure the creative work is brilliant.

You spend your time on planning, meetings with clients and your team, sorting out budgets and schedules, and watching industry trends so you know what's coming next. You need to understand what makes good design or good film-making, but also understand business - bringing projects in on time and on budget while keeping the work at a high standard. You're part manager, part cheerleader for your team, pushing them to do their best work.