15. What If You Didn’t Leave the Objects, Just the Museum? Ryan's Story.

A few weeks ago, Elin shared a LinkedIn post about an alternative career path for museum professionals... and it struck a nerve.What if you could keep working with objects… just not in a museum?In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell sit down with Ryan Jelso, a former curator at The Henry Ford, who pivoted into estate services, appraisal, and personal collections work.Ryan shares what it actually looked like to leave a respected curatorial role, navigate the identity shift, and build a new career that still centers material culture, just in a completely different context.Together, they unpack:what museum professionals often misunderstand about their own skillshow working with “the stuff” translates outside institutional settingswhat it takes to break into estate services and appraisal workand why this field is poised for major growth in the coming decadesThey also talk honestly about what it means to leave a “dream job,” the grief that can come with that decision, and how to recognize when something isn’t the right fit anymore.If you’ve ever thought, “I love working with objects, but I’m not sure museums are sustainable for me long-term,” this episode will open your eyes to a path you may not have considered.🔑 Key TakeawaysMuseum skills like research, object interpretation, and inventory management are highly transferable outside the fieldYou don’t have to leave the work you love. Sometimes you just change the contextIdentity is one of the hardest parts of leaving museum workWaiting too long to explore other options can lead to burnout and loss of confidenceEstate services, appraisal, and secondhand markets are growing industries due to generational wealth transferNetworking doesn’t have to be complicated. In-person connection and follow-up matterMuseum professionals often undervalue their ability to see the bigger picture and connect multiple stakeholdersYou can still be a steward of history and material culture outside a museum setting⏱ Chapters00:00 The LinkedIn Post That Sparked This Episode03:00 Ryan’s Museum Career at The Henry Ford10:00 What He Loved About Curatorial Work13:00 When Discontent Started Creeping In18:00 Identity, Grief, and Leaving a “Dream Job”24:00 Realizing a Mismatch in Work Style29:00 Discovering Estate Services & Reselling32:00 How He Actually Made the Pivot36:00 Transferable Skills That Mattered Most42:00 Finding Meaning in a New Role46:00 Money, Growth, and Career Ceiling in Museums50:00 Advice for Leaving (Before You Hit Burnout)57:00 Do You Miss Museums? Would You Go Back?1:00:00 How to Explore This Career Path🔍 Keywordsmuseum careersmuseum professionalscareer transitionsmuseum jobsestate servicesappraisal careerstransferable skillsleaving museumsalternative careers museumsworking with objectscareer pivotmaterial culture