From Lawyer to Art Historian: The Unexpected Leadership Journey of David Bardeen
From Lawyer to Art Historian: The Unexpected Leadership Journey of David Bardeen  
Podcast: Expressions of Leadership
Published On: Tue Oct 13 2026
Description: Dr. David Bardeen, Assistant Curator of European Painting and Sculpture at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), joins Michele Kawamoto Perry on Expressions of Leadership to explore an unexpected career journey from corporate law to art history. After building a successful career in finance and law, David began to question whether the path he had chosen was the one he wanted to continue pursuing. An experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art sparked a deeper interest in art, eventually leading him to make a bold change at 39 and pursue a new career. In this conversation, David reflects on what it takes to rethink success, step into the unfamiliar, and embrace the challenge of becoming a beginner again. He shares how curiosity, relationship-building, collaboration, and the ability to connect different fields of knowledge have shaped his work and approach to leadership. From navigating a major career change to finding unexpected connections between art, science, and history, David's story offers insights into the courage to change direction, the value of lifelong learning, and the possibilities that emerge when we remain open to new paths. Follow David Bardeen on Instagram @dbardeen. You can also learn more about what is happening at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art at www.lacma.org. Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the Follow and Subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also catch the show on CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo, Canada. Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project's expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Expressions of Leadership and David Bardeen 02:02 Growing Up Between Art and Science 04:50 From Harvard to Finance and Corporate Law 10:09 Leadership Lessons from Corporate Law 13:28 Discovering a Passion for Art History 15:47 Leaving Law to Pursue a New Career 18:24 The Caravaggio Painting That Changed His Perspective 22:17 Starting Over: The Courage to Be a Beginner 30:52 From Art Historian to Museum Curator at LACMA 42:37 Why Relationships and Collaboration Matter 49:36 Career Reinvention and the Evolution of Leadership 54:00 Wisdom and Whimsy: Advice and a Creative Question