How Alexandra Palace makes plans in centuries, not quarters with CEO Emma Dagnes OBE

Episode overview

Dave Allen is joined by Emma Dagnes OBE, Chief Executive of Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, to explore the pivotal moments that led to her leading one of the UK’s most iconic cultural institutions.

Emma shares a grounded, practical view of modern leadership – from delaying a major vision until the organization was truly ready, to building a sustainable “forever asset” that serves both its people and its community for the long term.

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It’s impossible to doubt Emma Dagnes’s commitment to Alexandra Palace.

As CEO of Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, she oversees a multi-faceted organization that sees over four million people interact with it each year.

“Ally Pally” is about more than just the building. With an ice rink, a pub, an events venue, and a huge park to manage, the survival of Alexandra Palace relies on a monumental, united effort from the entire organization.

What follows in this episode is a powerful framework for galvanizing vast teams around a radical vision, and building something that lasts centuries, not quarters.

You will learn:

• How Emma turned redundancy, rejection, and dyslexia into pivotal drivers of her leadership career.
• Why she chose to delay launching a bold new vision for Alexandra Palace, and the steps she took to get the organization truly ready.
• How to create a “golden thread” from purpose and vision through to team goals.
• How to galvanize an organization around shared values and exceptional experiences.
• What modern, empathetic leadership looks like when you’re stewarding a cultural “forever asset”.

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