# 5 Ridiculous Questions with Todd Smith > Source: https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/5-ridiculous-questions-with-todd-smith/ > Updated: 2020-11-20T18:39:49+00:00 > Type: Post > Categories: CLT Creatives | Contributors: Page Leggett When Todd Smith became the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s executive director in early September, it was a homecoming of sorts. Smith lived in Charlotte --- ![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/5-Ridiculous-Questions-1.jpg) ### **Todd Smith** **Executive Director** **Bechtler Museum of Modern Art** When **Todd Smith** became the**Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s** executive director in early September, it was a homecoming of sorts. Smith lived in Charlotte early in his career – when he worked as a curator at the **Mint Museum**. But he’s lived a lot of places in between his stints in Charlotte. Most recently, he made his home in the OC. He served as director and CEO at the **Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA)** for the past six years. His career leading art museums has also taken him to Tampa, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee and Fargo, North Dakota. (Really. And he found a lot to love about the city made famous by a Coen Brothers’ film about murder for hire.) Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in art history and political science from Duke University and a master’s degree in art history from Indiana University. He’s been a friend since I met him through his work at the Mint many years ago. I suspected I knew his answers to some of the questions I posed. (And I did. Hello, Tyler Brule.) But I’d never heard of [*Ted Lasso*](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy) until now. Culturally and in every other way, Todd is always miles ahead. Also, I’m no good with numbers, so I may have asked him more than five questions. ### On to 5 (Math-Challenged) Ridiculous Questions with Todd Smith --- #### **What’s your favorite place you’ve ever been that you didn’t expect to like?** That’s an unfair question. I suffer from extreme wanderlust and have always found something to like in every place I visit. I was surprised, though, how much I fell in love with Shanghai and can’t wait to go back once the world re-opens. #### **What’s your favorite breed of dog, and what does that say about you?** Pembroke Welsh Corgi. We have our second one, Pebbles, now. As a breed, they are so fun-loving. I guess though, given their physique, it means I’m an “ears-and-waddling-butt sort of guy.” #### **What’s some good advice that you just didn’t take (but wish you had)?** Maya Angelou once commented, “When people show you who they are, believe them.” I have gotten better over the years at heeding that advice. If only I would have taken that advice more regularly, I could have saved myself many unfortunate decisions. #### **You’re on a flight. Just for fun, let’s say you got upgraded to first class. The chatty person beside you asks what you do for a living. How do you explain your job and the Bechtler?** (Or do you fake sleep because you hate talking to strangers on planes?) Oh, if I am lucky enough to be able to turn left when I board, I am heading for that lie-flat seat with the aisle door closed and finding my personal Zen space of podcasts and magazines. But if I am asked, I would say that I am fortunate to be able to lead one of the gems of the museum world, a museum with a rich collection of European modern art, housed in an architectural showplace, and proud to be here as the museum steps into its second decade with hope and ambition. #### **You and your husband, Ben Hood, have been together for almost 25 years. What’s the secret to a long, happy marriage? And you can’t say “living in different cities” because that’s not practical for most people.** **(Note: Smith and Hood, a lawyer, have frequently lived in different cities, but they – and Pebbles – are enjoying being under the same roof now.)** In the words of the inimitable **Ted Lasso**, “Be a goldfish.” Learn to let things go. And I always have to remind myself, it is not as if I’m perfect, either. ### **Now. we’re into extra innings …** --- #### **What did you wear to your in-person interview at the Bechtler? What did it say about you?** Full-on suit and tie. You can never show too much respect to your potential bosses. #### **What public figure, who most people haven’t heard of, do you most admire?** It would have to be **Tyler Brule**, the editor-in-chief of *Monocle* magazine. He founded *Wallpaper* magazine back in the day and launched *Monocle* and its radio and online platforms over the last 12 years. It covers all that shapes the world I want to live in. Its editorial content ranges from foreign affairs, travel, culture, design to business, urbanism and fashion. It is my media one-stop source. And even with all of the attention-sucking social media in our lives, the magazine is so well designed it makes me want to dig in for hours. --- **More Bites of The Bechtler** [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thebechtler/) | [WEBSITE](http://bechtler.org/)