Christa Downey shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Christa, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
I recently felt most loved when my sister offered VIP transportation to the Turkey Trot. We needed to pick up our bibs downtown at 6am. It was freezing cold and parking was tough. My sister volunteered to pick me up at 5:45 am to take me to get the race bibs for my family, took me back to rest for an hour, and then took us all downtown for the race. She cheered us on, took us for breakfast burritos (there were snacks in her van as well), and dropped us back at my father’s house.
I was reminded of the many other times she dropped everything to take care of me – painting my shed and hanging drywall in my house while we toured around Ireland, watching my toddler while my husband and I spent a weekend in Boston.
I feel very loved by her and hope she feels loved as well. We both deserve it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As a leadership coach, startup mentor, and impact investor, I help leaders align purpose and performance so their organizations can thrive while advancing a healthier planet and a more just, sustainable future.
I’m always working on new ways to support bright people with big ideas. Whether coaching a founder, facilitating a retreat, or guiding organizational strategy, my goal is to help leaders grow in ways that are both strategic and human-centered — turning bold ideas into sustainable, scalable impact.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I have always been an explorer. I spent hours and days walking through the woods and biking around my neighborhood (which happened to be 3 adjoining cemeteries (we rented the original caretakers house). On vacation, I took my younger cousins down to the creek to explore and once convinced them to join me in an attempt to walk around the entire lake. I may have been curious, but I didn’t have the sense of direction and distance to take on leading such an expedition, so we turned around after a while. The parents were not pleased.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I almost gave up on graduate school. Living in a small, flat town didn’t impress me after childhood and college in Pittsburgh, PA. A classmate convinced me to stay for the second year. We spent the summer biking, camping, and exploring. He is now my husband of over 20 years, so it all worked out.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to supporting under resourced and under appreciated founders. I will continue to invest time and resources into companies and founders that are working toward a healthier, more sustainable, more equitable future.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Investing in startups!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://christabdowneycoaching.com
- Instagram: @christabdowneycoaching
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christabdowney/
- Soundcloud: https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/engineering-career-resources/podcast/
Image Credits
Photo credit for the photo of me in a pink blazer: NSP STUDIO
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
