Christine 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….”