Services

I am an advisor, strategist, and facilitator helping cultural organisations unlock the real potential of digital.

I work with leaders and teams to shape strategy, build capacity, and bring new ideas to life, always aligned with your mission, your people, and your audience.

From digital transformation to mentoring senior leaders, designing roadmaps to fixing tricky supplier relationships. If you're wrestling with digital in a cultural context, I can help.

If you're reading this you probably don't need convincing about the importance and potential of this sort of work, but maybe you also don't have the capacity or experience to pursue it alone, or know how best to get started. That’s where I can come in.

How I can help

I support cultural organisations through:

Strategy & Delivery Support

• Fractional leadership
• Supplier review & procurement
• Feasibility and validation sprints

Coaching, Advice & Facilitation

• Sounding board/critical friend
• Mentoring
• Workshop facilitation

Assessment & Transformation

• Health-check assessments
• Digital maturity programmes

Recent projects include:

• Advising a new cultural venue on digital strategy, infrastructure, and team design
• Guiding a multi-year digital transformation initiative with an iconic UK cultural organisation
• Co-designing and delivering a leadership development programme on digital change
• Researching common causes of digital failure in the arts
• Co-authoring a toolkit for hybrid cultural experiences
• Mentoring both senior leaders and early-career digital practitioners

How we could work together

Below are a few specific examples of ways I work with clients.

If what you need isn’t quite described here please do just get in touch for a chat, I’m always interested in new conversations; you can book a call or drop me an email ash@ashmann.co.

Fractional leadership

The cultural sector suffers from a shortage of leaders with senior digital expertise and experience. I can work with you and your team(s), adding capacity and insight to ensure the digital layer to your planning, thinking, and execution is effectively considered.

These engagements typically involve a few days per month, agreed on a rolling 3-month basis.

Supplier review & procurement support

Many organisations feel unsure if their digital suppliers are delivering the right value or impact. I’ve been on both sides of these relationships, as both client and supplier, and can help you review existing contracts, assess performance, and identify improvements.

I also support briefing, shortlisting, and appointing new suppliers, ensuring your internal setup is aligned for success.

Health-check assessment

A practical, honest review of your digital maturity covering team structure, roles, systems, culture, workflows, and user experience.

You’ll get a clear picture of what’s working, what needs attention, and where to focus your energy next.

Sounding board/'critical friend'

Leaders often need space, and a knowledgeable conversation partner, to explore new ideas, sense-check plans, or prepare for key decisions.

I offer experienced, sector-aware input to help you get to the strongest, most achievable version of an idea whether you're:

• Thinking through a new digital or audience strategy
• Navigating organisational change or team restructuring
• Preparing for a board meeting or funding pitch
• Working out how to frame a complex problem
• Clarifying your role as a digital leader
• Balancing ambition with capacity and risk
• Stress-testing a delivery plan or procurement process
• Or simply needing a sounding board who understands both the mission and the messiness

This provides an opportunity for honest, constructive, and energising conversations that help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Transformation and maturity programmes

Digital maturity is essential to your organisation’s sustainability. I work with experienced Associates to design tailored transformation programmes that develop internal capacity and embed lasting change.

These are grounded in real organisational context, not generic models, and focused on practical progress, not perfection.

Workshop facilitation

Whether you're kicking off a new initiative, exploring fresh ideas, or navigating change, I can design and lead sessions that bring people together with purpose.

I create a safe, structured space where everyone’s voice is heard and progress is made. I can also bring in inspiring external speakers from my network to spark discussion and learning.

FlightPlan: feasibility & validation sprints

Digital initiatives often stall because organisations can’t confidently move from idea to action. I lead short, focused sprints (typically 6 weeks) that turn early-stage concepts into testable prototypes shaped with users, grounded in real-world insight.

You’ll get a proof of concept, clear next steps, and a solid case to share with funders, partners, or your board.