Female leadership and value creation in a cultural institution

This chapter explores how female leadership contributes to public value creation in the cultural sector. To answer the research question, the case study of female leadership at the Matta- toio in Rome has been investigated. The analyses have been carried out by interviewing the Vice President of the “Azienda Speciale Palaexpo” and Manager of the Mattatoio, and two artists who exhibited at the Pavilions of the Mattatoio. Drafting the picture of a cultural institution managed by a female, the findings provide insights into a stream of literature still underexplored, highlighting the potential of female leadership in reshaping cultural management. Specifically, as demonstrated by previous literature, female leaders possess certain characteristics that can be beneficial in engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, establishing networks, and promoting knowledge dissemination, thereby making a positive impact on the social dimension of public value.