About
Dani
The best experiences are felt before they are understood.
I create experiences where children thrive and families connect. I've worked across museums, cultural institutions, events, and immersive experiences in the US, Europe and the Middle East.
Dani Hildreth
My career follows a single thread: creating places where children thrive and families connect.
For more than 13 years, I've led new destinations from concept to opening day and beyond, from launching two startup museums in Dubai to supporting the expansion of the Children's Museum of Denver, with projects and teams across three continents.
I believe the strongest places are built when vision, design, education and operations work as one. A beautiful space without purpose is simply architecture. A compelling idea without strong execution remains an idea. And even the most extraordinary destination cannot succeed without the people who bring it to life.
That's why you'll find me on the floor, not just at the drawing board. The details are where the magic lives: a handrail at the right height, a school group moving without a bottleneck, the first smile at the welcome desk. I bring a balance of aesthetics that inspire, operations that feel effortless, and experiences that make every child feel capable and truly seen.
My goal is to help build places that are purposeful, beautiful and genuinely human. I create experiences that leave every visitor a little more curious, a little more connected, and a little more confident than when they arrived.
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Education rooted in research. Memories steeped in authenticity. And joy that can be shared.
Great experiences begin with a conversation. Let's start one →
What I believe
When children are given the freedom to explore something they're curious about, you can see the spark immediately: their whole face lights up.
As adults, we often overlook the profound value of play, connection, and curiosity. But these are some of the ways we learn to understand ourselves, one another, and the world around us. Through exploration and play, we develop the softer skills that shape how we think, connect, empathize, and grow.
Experience
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June 2024 to September 2026
Director of Guest Experience
kidSTREAM Children's Museum · Camarillo, California
Third hire on the founding team, helping lead the museum from initial vision through design, construction, and its May 2026 opening. Helped secure a $7.5M capital campaign and stewarded $2.5M+ in capital and operating budgets, reporting results to the Board and stakeholders. Built the Guest Experience department from the ground up, designing the org chart and KPIs, hiring and training an 18-person team, and writing the foundational policies that guide daily operations. Delivered over 20,000 sq ft of custom indoor and outdoor exhibits, bringing exhibits, education, guest experience, and community engagement together into one mission-driven destination.
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June 2021 to May 2022
Operations Manager, School Programs
Expo 2020 Dubai · Dubai, UAE
Led school operations for a global education programme serving more than 1 million students across 192 international pavilions. Built and led a 400+ person team of guides, supervisors, coordinators, and managers, overseeing daily operations, visitor flow, accessibility, safety, transportation, and tour delivery. Coordinated complex visits, delegations, performances, and ceremonial events across Expo's international stakeholders.
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September 2019 to June 2021
Experience Curator
Immersive Experiences, woo-hoo! · Dubai, UAE
Founding leader and first employee, taking three experience brands from initial vision and site planning through construction, launch, and first-year operations. Reporting directly to the founder and investors, set the creative vision, brand, visitor experience, and operating model while directing international architects, engineers, fabricators, and consultants. Built earned-revenue streams including field trips, birthday parties, public programs, workshops, café, and retail, and consulted on woo-hoo!'s second location.
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August 2017 to July 2019
Director of Family Engagement, Operations & Guest Experience
OliOli Children's Museum · Dubai, UAE
As the second member of the founding team behind Dubai's first children's museum, helped shape the institution from construction through opening and early growth. Led visitor flow, space planning, exhibit activation, and guest experience strategy, while establishing operational policies, programs, and the 30-person team responsible for delivering the experience.
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May 2013 to July 2017
Operations Manager
Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus · Denver, Colorado
Led museum operations through a $16M expansion, overseeing $1M+ operating budgets and a team of 18 to 20 Managers on Duty. Partnered across exhibits, education, and development to deliver new visitor experiences, strengthen operational systems, and ensure that the expanded museum remained welcoming, safe, accessible, and mission-driven.
Education
Master in Arts & Culture Management, Rome Business School, Rome, Italy · Magna cum laude
BA, Sculpture & Art History, Colorado State University