Interview – Dr. Cornelie Kunkat
© Kurbanov und Muchnik GbR
Mentorship and Equality in Practice: Dr. Cornelie Kunkat on Building Networks and Shaping Change
What does it take to change the cultural sector from the inside out? How can mentorship shift not only careers but also the way we understand equality, at work and at home?
In this episode of The Art She Manages, I speak with Dr. Cornelie Kunkat, cultural consultant and founder of the mentoring program for women in arts and media at the German Cultural Council. Drawing on her background in American Studies, Politics, and Philosophy, Dr. Kunkat shares her journey from advocacy to consultancy, and her insights into how mentorship, equality, and transformation are intertwined in today’s arts leadership.
Why this conversation matters
Dr. Kunkat opens up a rare inside view into change in Germany’s cultural landscape: from fighting gender inequality through structured mentoring, to advising institutions on leadership and recruitment today. She speaks with candor about why equality begins in private life, the challenges of modern networks, and how cultural organizations are struggling to reinvent themselves in the face of political, financial, and generational pressures.
This conversation is more than policy talk: it’s about the lived reality of women in leadership, the mental load behind careers, and the courage to ask for mentorship even when it feels intimidating.
Whether you’re an aspiring arts leader, an advocate for gender equality, or simply someone navigating transformation in your field, Dr. Kunkat’s reflections offer both practical guidance and a reminder that cultural change begins with people willing to connect and support each other.
You’ll learn
Why Dr. Kunkat founded a mentoring program for women
How equality at home shapes the possibility of equality in professional life
The strengths and weaknesses of today’s countless women’s networks in the cultural sector
How to ask for a mentor and structure the relationship in concrete, manageable steps
The major transformation challenges facing cultural organizations today, from funding cuts to generational shifts
Why consultancy, like mentorship, is ultimately about reading people, understanding needs, and building trust
“As long as you live equality in your private life, you might also reach it within your career. But you can’t expect the career to be perfect if equality is not lived at home.”
“If you ask five women to mentor you, maybe two will say yes. It’s like dating — some will decline, but there will always be people willing to help.”
Resources & ways to connect
Learn more about the Mentoring Program for Women in Arts and Media here
Learn about KULTUREXPERTEN here
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