Meet Christine, one of our Senior Consultants.

Christine Chen (she/her) is a professional dancer turned nonprofit executive turned consultant. With her unique background in sociology, arts, and leadership, Christine approaches every project with deep empathy, humility and respect for the unique individuals and organizations working towards a more just and equitable world. She is energized by the possibility of exploring and creating positive impact, value and joy.

Christine is the former executive director of two premiere dance organizations — STREB Inc. and American Repertory Ballet. She also worked as the Director of Strategic Programming, Dance and Adult Programming for the 92nd Street Y, New York. With over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, 12 of which were spent in senior leadership positions, she has deep competencies in quantitative data analysis, business strategy and execution, and, above all, an adaptive, creative spirit and a thirst to tackle seemingly impossible challenges.

Impact Approach

Christine is particularly passionate about working with organizations who are curious and open to adapting and evolving so they can best achieve their goals in our ever-changing world. Christine believes that organizational impact can take infinite forms and that progress towards helping a client achieve their greatest mission impact is made through clear communication and inclusion of diverse voices, by nurturing equity and a healthy organizational culture, gracefully clearing obstacles to change, and collaboratively clarifying a vision and a way forward.

Education

• Princeton University, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology with Certificates (minors) in Theater and Dance and Gender and Sexuality Studies (formerly Women’s Studies)
• Ohio State University, Master of Fine Arts, Dance
• University of California, Davis, Graduate School of Management, Master of Business Administration

Outside of Work

Christine enjoys spending time getting dirty outdoors—hiking, biking, swimming in open waters, or simply chopping and stacking wood. Whenever she can, she enjoys keeping up her repertory of tricks (and creating new ones) on the flying trapeze and continuing her practice of other aerial arts.