​L is for loyal
E is for [nearly] eidetic
I is for imperfect
G is for gifted
H is for headstrong
A is for awesome
N is for nice
N is for "nasty woman"
E is for effervescent

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: 
METRO: Metropolitan New York Library Council
ASIS&T: Association for Information Science and Technology
ELNYA: Emerging Leaders of New York Arts
AGMA: American Guild of Musical Artists

EDUCATION
BA, Visual Arts - Oberlin College
B.Mus, Vocal Performance - Oberlin Conservatory

Hello, I'm Leighanne!

Turning chaos into beautiful, user-friendly orderliness is my passion. For the past ten years I have worked hard to establish it as my career. My first gig out of college was at a small and disorganized Americana music management and booking agency, where I planned tour routes, produced concerts and designed promotional materials for our emerging singer-songwriters. During this time I learned about the monetary value of streamlining information flow. My efficient approach to sales and marketing resulted in more gigs for the performers. In addition to this full-time role I continued to freelance as a home organizer, photographer and professional choral singer. 

Within a year I was promoted to Manager and a year later moved to Columbia Artists Management, Inc. where I developed similar streamlined systems for a ten-person management office. I was accepted into the New York City Arts + Business Council's Arts Leadership Institute where I developed my understanding of the the importance of efficiency and audience engagement in the non-profit arts world. 

I also completed the Kaufman Foundation / SUNY Levin Institute's Entrepreneurial Training Program, which increased my awareness of the importance of good design in marketing. In 2010 I started my own music management agency, responsible for my own IT work, identity and multimedia communication as well as the design for clients’ advertising and marketing campaigns. 

In 2012 I was hired by a high-end Bed & Breakfast as their assistant manager where I made beds, cooked fantastic brunches, and generally provided impeccable hospitality (an extension of usability). The business was subsequently offered a spot on Jetsetter.com. I also continued to mount concerts of my own music and to expand my photography portfolio

Now I am harnessing my passion for improving usability to explore the fields of Information Architecture and Content Strategy at Pratt Institute's School of Information and Library Science, while continuing to gig as singer and freelancing as a manager, event planner and organizer (of things both physical and theoretical).

Back

What I Bring: 

Perspective. I swiftly assess the situation at hand and see a path to the agreed-upon goal.

Creative Problem Solving. I think outside the box to save money and time. 

Efficiency. I propose preemptive, insightful solutions.

HOW I BRING IT:

I'm an observer. I listen, observe and provide insightful feedback., promoting honesty and directness along the way.

I'm a planner and an artist. Ten years of gigging as a professional musician has made me especially good at "bottom-lining" projects. I am especially good at liaising between stakeholders.

LIFE-LONG LEARNING

My work over the years has shown me that increasing the USABILITY, BEAUTY and EASE of the mundane spaces we inhabit every day is a sure path to increased satisfaction and productivity. 
CONTEXT + CONTENT + ORGANIZATION = happy users!

My #1 University is my freelancer life, because of which, intelligence from many and varied fields is carried to me daily, to my awe and delight.

I also try to learn new things on a regular basis. Here are some recent talks and workshops I have attended:

2015

Defining Digital Content [Leala 
Abbott, Content Strategy Lead at HUGE] 

"The Future Is Now: the Evolution of Library Collections, Focusing on Data as a New Format" [METRO]

World Information Architecture Day

Information Professions [Pratt]

Making Sense of Any Mess: Principles of Information Architecture [Abby Covert at frog design]