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Forty Women to Watch Over 40

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Christine Harada

Christine HaradasqChristine Harada: Transitions from Designing Satellite Systems to Consulting to Overseeing Federal Environmental and Energy Sustainability
Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, White House Council on Environmental Quality
Twitter: @Chrismit94
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-j-harada-368a2
Website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/EOP/ceq

Bio: Currently, White House Federal Chief Sustainability Officer (since Nov 2015); Previous roles include Acting Chief of Staff, US General Services Administration (GSA) and working for BCG, Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin. MBA from Wharton, BS and MS in Aeronautics / Astronautics from MIT and Stanford (respectively)

Innovating in Field of Work:

  • Works at the cutting, government sponsored, edge of environmental and energy responsibility
  • Works collaboratively with the President’s office and Federal agencies to implement Executive Orders on sustainability and Green Gov initiative
  • Previously consultant to Fortune 500 and public sector clients tackling pressing challenges
  • Began career developing satellite systems/subsystems

Impact:

  • She’s responsible for promoting environmental and energy sustainability across Federal Government operations: 360,000, 650, 000 vehicles, and $445 billion annually in purchased goods and services.
  • In her work with the GSA she provided government-wide policies and guidance to enable the sustainable and efficient use of assets, effective acquisition leadership, identity management and sound information management.”
  • While at Booz Allen Hamilton, grew the practice she led by 44% over 2 years ensuring successful delivery of a $70 million portfolio of projects

Role Model:

  • Natural mentor to both men and women
  • Fosters and atmosphere where people thrive
  • Balances drive and excellence with a warm, kind and funny spirit

Reinvention / Risk / Momentum:

  • Always seeking new ideas and perspectives
  • Open-minded, curious and hungry to learn.
  • Success in initial government role at GSA opened up a larger opportunity at the White House where she can have a bigger impact.

“She never set out to consider government service, but when recruited she embraced the role and has thrived. I think Christine probably has two or three more careers left in her….”