About Us

Find out who we are and what we can do together!

WE KNOW THE CULTURAL SECTOR LIKE FEW OTHERS

To successfully develop growth projects in the cultural sector, nothing can be taken for granted. Only in-depth knowledge developed over time can support effective change and growth projects. Very few consulting firms can boast specific expertise and broader sector and geographical experience.

We, like few others, can provide and make them available to you.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CLIENT

According to a Scandinavian custom, every meeting should end with a shared coffee: a project, in fact, fails or succeeds depending on the level of trust created among the participants in each decisive exchange. Only a constant but unobtrusive presence can bring a job to fruition, ensuring the outcome and well-being of those involved.

We can assure that we will stand by your side when necessary for the success of the project.

WE LOVE OUR WORK

For Sigmund Freud, the recipe for defending oneself against the dark evils of society and one’s unconscious is “Love and work.” We could not agree more, even more so when, as in our case, one goes hand in hand with the other.

The enthusiasm of being able to do work that is believed to be necessary and useful is the basis of the commitment we pour into the projects we are involved in every day.

Irene Popoli

FOUNDER OF MUSEUM STRATEGY CONSULTANCY HEAD OF ANALYSIS, DEVELOPMENT, FUNDRAISING AND REPORTING AREAS

Born in 1984, after completing her bachelor’s degree in Cultural Heritage Economics and Management from Università Ca’ Foscari in Venice, she decided to move to Milan to complete her education with a master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.

The following years were devoted to professional training: after an internship at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, she returned to Italy as a consultant to the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan.

Subsequently, she decided to hone his organizational, managerial and research skills abroad: in 2016, she received her PhD in Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden.

Back in Italy, she was project leader at MUSE – Museum of Science in Trento. She enriched her education at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, lED, Copenhagen Business School, as well as SKEMA Business School, EMLyon Business School, Politecnico di Milano and IESE Business School.

Irene Popoli founder of museum strategy consultancy firm for Culture - who we are — Irene Popoli founder of museum strategy consultancy firm for Culture – who we are

Currently, she is a lecturer and adjunct professor at several Italian universities, where she teaches courses in Budget Analysis, Strategy, Funding and Fundraising, and Business Economics. She is a reviewer and contributor at several journals and publications, including Il Giornale delle Fondazioni, the International Journal of Arts Management, and the Arts Management Network Journal.

Irene has been a contributor in academic publications and she has presented her research at multiple international conferences. She is an ICOM associate, and a member of Europeana Network, Arts Marketing Association, and ASSIF – the Italian Association of Fundraisers.

Her passion for the cultural and creative industries and her interest in science outreach led her to found the consulting and training firm Museum Strategy Consultancy.

Elena Stella

ASSOCIATED CONSULTANT, CULTURAL TOURISM AND DESTINATION MANAGEMENT

In Museum Strategy Consultancy, she is the person of reference for all matters related to the tourist enhancement of cultural destinations (municipalities, territories), museums, and public and private cultural institutions.

For over 15 years, she has been involved in tourist promotion for cultural heritage, territorial institutions, and destinations with a cultural focus. As a great enthusiast of local history, she visited the first Venetian villa in 2007 and was captivated by the beauty of historic homes. Since then, she has been working daily on their international promotion and commercialization.

An expert in destination management and destination marketing, she works with tourist destinations of all sizes, both public and private, overseeing various aspects. This includes structuring hospitality, branding, engaging with local stakeholders and territorial governance, as well as fostering cross-sectoral synergies with commerce and culture. Drawing from her years of experience gained in major incoming tour operators, she also focuses on developing cultural tourism products and designing experiences for museums and private operators.

As a lecturer and trainer, since 2020 she has been teaching Tourism Management for Culture in Milan at the Business School of the RCS Group – Corriere della Sera, within the Master’s program in Management of Culture and Artistic Heritage.

Laura Casarsa

PARTNER, AREA COMUNICAZIONE

Laureata in Economia e Gestione dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali, è attualmente responsabile della comunicazione del Museo Gypsotheca Antonio Canova di Possagno (TV) e dell’Associazione Giochi Antichi di Verona. Collabora con Museum Strategy Consultancy dal 2021 per l’Area Comunicazione.