The Business Quiz: Abby Ballain

Abby Ballain

Executive Director

Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance

Coralville

What was the last book you read?

I recent read “StrengthsFinder 2.0” by Tom Rath. It is a book and an online assessment focused on determining and enhancing your strengths rather than improving your weaknesses.

The concept was quite interesting to me and I enjoyed reading my results.

Where is your favorite place to get away?

Daily, my getaway place is any trail or street in the Corridor. I love to run and have been running for over 15 years.

Having my daily running time gives me a much-needed break away from my cellphone and computer.

Did you have a professional mentor?

One of my closest mentors is Ann Miller, marketing director at the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Ann was my supervisor when I worked at the MSO and has continued to be a wonderful mentor and friend.

What do you always have close at hand at your workstation?

My cellphone, a paper and pen, and a bottle of water.

Did you start out in this line of work?

My undergraduate degree from Luther College was in music management. My graduate degree is an MBA in arts administration from UW-Madison.

I decided at a young age that I wanted to work in a field where I could work with the arts as well as business, so arts management seemed like an appropriate fit.

How would you describe your management style?

I will be the first to admit that I am probably what most consider Type A. I am extremely organized and a diligent communicator.

Did you have a job while you were in school?

At any given time in school, I usually had two to three jobs. I like to stay busy.

At Luther I worked for a number of organizations including the Celebration Iowa Singers & Jazz Band, the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum.

At UW-Madison, I worked for University Theatre, the Madison Symphony Orchestra and managed the Ancora String Quartet. Now, I am focused solely on ICCA.