ONE of the directors of a Swindon digital media firm has gone back to school with a difference – she’s acquiring new skills at the prestigious Harvard Business School in the USA.

Shahina Johnson, CEO and Artistic Director, of Create Studios based in Theatre Square, Swindon, is one of 50 ‘exceptional leaders’ chosen to take part in an international program of learning and sharing knowledge.

The Chief Executive Program: Community and Culture is providing Shahina and her fellow leaders with the opportunity to acquire new skills and to learn from each other to form a ‘community of practice’ to help communities from all over the world.

The group includes one other UK leader, plus individuals from the Lebanon, Colombia, Australia and Ireland, along with 44 Americans. After winning a place on the program, each has been invited to take part in three visits to business institutions in the United States over the next year.

Speaking from Harvard Shahina said: “It has been an amazing privilege for our work at Create Studios in Swindon to be counted here amongst the most inspiring stories of cultural leadership from around the world. The strand that has united everyone has been the commitment to arts and culture being a force for good and bringing all communities together.

“I am so proud that our work in Swindon has been acknowledged in this way, and the opportunity to hear from Harvard's Business School lecturers about building strong organisations to achieve this has left me with great transforming tools to bring back to Swindon and Create Studios.”

Create Studios is now in its 32nd year. Originally set up by Swindon Council, it relaunched as an independent Community Interest Company in 2014, using digital arts as a tool for education, skills development and social inclusion.