Dr. Mary Ittelson

Biography

Mary Ittelson is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a consultant, and an arts advocate. Her work emphasizes the belief that art is essential to a rich life and contributes to vibrant communities and civil society. In response to cultural, health, economic, and technological upheavals, she founded the Art Business Lab to engage students with artists and business leaders in fostering positive change. Ittelson has played a significant role in Booth's Arts and Creative Enterprise Program as a faculty advisor and member of the steering committee. She has taught at major universities and emboldens current and future leaders in her Arts Leadership class, encouraging them to employ radical strategies to achieve cultural impact and fiscal sustainability. Prior to joining Booth's faculty, she co-taught Leadership in the Arts and Creative Industries at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Her consulting firm, Ittelson Consulting, provides strategic planning and leadership counsel to a range of arts, cultural, and business organizations. She has collaborated with clients like museums, theaters, media corporations, and government agencies, and has experience with McKinsey & Company working for Fortune 100 clients. Moreover, Ittelson has held leadership roles in the cultural sector, including chairman of the board for the Museum of Contemporary Art and a member of the Chicago Cultural Advisory Council. An accomplished dancer and choreographer, her work has been showcased at prestigious venues like the Juilliard School and Lincoln Center. Ittelson holds an MBA from Stanford and a BA in Choreography from New York University, along with engagement at the Stanford University Distinguished Career Institute.

Research Interests