About - Voice and Place

My
Story

For more years than I care to recount, I tried to perfectly follow “the script”: my best synthesis of all sorts of external messages (not to mention, a really strong inner critic) that told me who or what I could or should be in the world. It was an exhausting and impossible task that impacted both my life and my leadership. Not to mention the impact I was having on the people and projects I cared about most. Over time, I began to look within - to ask what do I think, believe, feel or want? How can I bring my best self and best work to the table?
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As I found my footing and unearthed my own voice and place, I couldn’t help but see the ways that other people - sometimes whole demographics of people - have been impacted by messages and actions that limit their ability to fully realize their unique potential - at home, in the boardroom, and in everyday life.
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Ultimately, for me it’s about Freedom, Empowerment and Impact, Self-Compassion and Caring for Each Other. These serve as both the motivation and the goal for my work. I really do get excited about a world where every individual, team, and demographic of people can live and lead as their best selves - using their voice and place for the Common Good.

_{My Approach}

Human:
Relational, Authentic, Empathetic, Witty, Courageous
Holistic:
Engaging mind, body, and spirit
Inclusive:
Value for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - in action
Research-based:
Best practices from neuroscience that incorporate multiple learning modalities, mindfulness, and the impact of trauma
Practical:
Tools and practices for your everyday life

My Back
ground

I have leadership experience in a wide range of non-profit and academic settings. I am deeply familiar with the tensions of balancing out the bottom line with one's organizational mission and values - and caring well for people in the process.

My experience is also driven by my love of learning and value for growth, including:
• Doctorate in Leadership + Spiritual Formation
• Undergraduate + graduate degrees in Education
• Certified Professional Diversity Coach
• CTI Professional Coach Training
• Unconscious Bias Certification
• Certified in Enneagram; conversant with DISC, Kolbe, MBTI, LCP 360, StrengthsFinder
• Dare to Lead; Mindfulness for Self-Compassion; Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Scaling Intimacy School of Experience Design

As for my humanity, I am a people-person, recovering perfectionist, cancer survivor, warrior, good-enough mom, and grateful wife. I seek to pay attention to what my body and spirit have to teach me, and have learned (the hard way) the importance of holistic self-care. In addition to coffee or a G+T, things that fill my cup include hosting gatherings on my front porch, urban living, sitting by bodies of water, and eating layer cake. And, I also jumped on the pickle ball bandwagon.

What They
Say About Voice & Place

Don't just take it from us - here's what our clients have said about working with Christine.

Shannon, Technology Firm Manager

Thank you so much for our coaching sessions. I always walk away with new things to try immediately. I am re-energized after our meetings.

Ryan Roff - Social Entrepreneur + Experience Design

I have experienced Christine as a gifted leader, facilitator, organizer, friend and spiritual director. She leads with energy and compassion and has the unique ability to see a vision through from start to finish....She has the ability to beautifully discern competing needs and build unity around a decision.

Lauren VanKeulen - CEO at AYA Youth Collective

My team and I have worked with Christine in a variety of ways over the years, from fund development to 1:1 coaching, Christine is a phenomenal leader who takes the time to understand all facets of an issue. She has been an incredibly supportive and helpful coach to our team members. Christine uses her deep understanding of racial inequity to fuel her frame of engagement. I'm so grateful for her impact in this community and I highly recommend her!

Arianne Lehn - Author

Christine was so gifted in creating an inviting, safe space where I could peer into the parts of myself and my experiences I was afraid to venture into alone. She knew just the right questions to ask in helping me probe what was really happening inside of me. In our conversations, Christine helped me connect with, hear, and honor my inner voice.

Tim Nelson - Pastor, Mars Hill Bible Church

Christine is a thoughtful, direct, and inspiring public speaker - effective and engaging, no matter the audience. And as a leader and coach, Christine helped the individuals and teams in our organization name and engage complex challenges while showing us how we are equipped to best resolve them.

Anna, Executive Leader + Coaching Client

Not only is Christine highly relational, she is at ease in helping coach me through both difficult work things and emotional roadblocks. As a result of working with Christine, I am better at staying centered in my authenticity while also maintaining healthy boundaries and professionalism.