Staying Curious: A Great Leadership Quality

For Mia Hooper (Delta 2009/IUP) the ability to ask questions and stay curious has never steered her wrong. 

“It’s an underrated skill, to find the right question,” she said. “But asking questions is how problems get solved, conversations get started, and opportunities to learn begin.” Her curiosity has, in part, led to her varied career journey and where she is today. 

In college, she majored in economics and minored in dance, Spanish, and Latin American studies. “Right out of college, I interned for a contemporary dance company in Pittsburgh,” she said. After a move to NYC and a return to Pittsburgh, Mia took a job with PNC but found that her heart wasn’t in her role there. “I loved my coworkers, but it wasn’t the environment for me,” she shared. “It’s important to know that your first few jobs out of college might not be the end-all, be-all, but you can always learn more about what you do or don’t like. You’ll find your footing eventually.” 

Luckily, her former supervisor at the contemporary dance company had a role available that kickstarted her current career. In 2014, Mia took a full-time position in development and finance, handling everything from fundraising efforts to bookkeeping for this small nonprofit. 

After only a year in the position, Mia welcomed her son. “At the time, the organization had never had anyone be pregnant, so they had no maternity leave policy,” she shared. Her ability to ask the right questions and be transparent with her employer led to a shift in their maternity leave policy and gave Mia some of the flexibility needed for a new parent. “I also leaned into community resources for childcare assistance and was able to ask for help from a great group of friends and colleagues,” she said. 

In 2019, she took another leap and joined the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, which connects local artists and arts organizations to support and resources, ranging from financial support to advocacy for arts policy. She started as a development manager and soon became the Director of Development and Grantmaking.

In 2023, Mia became the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s first Chief Operating Officer (COO), a role focused on internal culture building. She said, “It’s tricky to be the first in the role. There are different ways to be a COO so I’ve worked closely with our CEO to split up responsibilities and determine those on paper. I’ve also had to navigate changing relationships with my colleagues, as some are now reporting to me.” 

Her changing relationships require consistent communication and questions about evolving the relationship together. Mia prides herself on having an incredible network of peers and former colleagues, many of whom have become close friends. She said, “I’m pretty introverted, but I’ve found so much value in one-on-one connections, maintaining those relationships, and bringing my coworkers along with me as we all progress through our careers, from internships to leadership.”

Her advice to those looking to build a stronger network? “Take advantage of untraditional learning opportunities! You’ll rarely find me at a networking event, but I participate in cohorts that align with my personal and professional interests. I’ve found that discussing heavier topics and knowing you share a similar approach to an issue can create a stronger bond,” Mia shared. 

It’s also important to value collaboration and authenticity when building those relationships within your network. “You can be competitive and driven, but collaboration will get you farther,” Mia said. “Network cultivation is much easier when you bring your authentic self to work, and you’ll be able to make moves much faster and easier in your career because you’ll already be surrounded by people you trust and who will hold you accountable.” 

Mia developed the skills to network, build relationships, and work well with others as a collegiate member of the Delta Chapter at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mia explained, “That was the first time I had to figure out how to work with people from different backgrounds and experiences to reach a common goal, and that work was never-ending because we were always adding new members to the chapter through recruitment.” 

With those networking skills in her pocket, Mia recently decided to reach beyond her professional involvement with the community and get involved personally. In 2024, she was selected to fill a vacancy on her borough council. 

Again, curiosity drove her to apply for the position. “I wanted to learn more about how decisions are made in the borough, especially since we are so small, and what better way to do it than by joining the council,” she said. “There’s been a challenging learning curve, but it’s been a good experience so far. I’m currently collecting signatures so I can run for my next term.” 

Up next, Mia looks forward to implementing the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s strategic plan and welcoming some new hires to the organization. She shared, “We have five-year goals developed, and I’ve got quarterly steps to make them happen. That is another skill I learned from my Alpha Sigma Tau experience; you have to break down an idea into tangible steps to get that idea realized. Now, it’s just changed from semester-by-semester steps to year-by-year goals!”