An Inspired Chat with Christine D. Gagnon

Christine D. Gagnon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Christine D., it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I’m an early riser, usually waking up between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. without an alarm. The first thing I do is clear my inboxes so I’m starting the day organized and responsive. From there, I head to the home gym, starting with a quick advanced Pilates and then about an hour or more of cardio. It’s the same routine every day, including weekends, which keeps me grounded and consistent. Once I’ve finished training, I sit down with my first coffee and transition into my workday with focus already built in.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
People often describe my career as polymathic—bridging finance, strategy, and academia. First and foremost, I serve as CFO of Roha Group, Inc. a New York–based private equity firm. In addition, I lead CDG Holdings Group, a diversified holding company that includes Odin Frigg LLC, a boutique speakers’ bureau, and TEDxCatawba, which curated its inaugural event in 2025.

Alongside my executive work, I’m pursuing my Doctor of Business Administration at UNC Charlotte and serve as a Practitioner in Residence in the Department of Accounting within the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University. I’m also a CPA, having started my career at PwC—a firm I still consider one of the best foundations for anyone entering the profession.

My academic background includes a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting and an MBA in International Business from the University of Connecticut, as well as a Master of Legal Studies from Washington University. I’ve also completed executive education at Harvard Business School and Stanford University.

What ties all of this together is my drive to explore and connect ideas across disciplines—finance, law, strategy, education, and storytelling—while building platforms like TEDxCatawba and Odin Frigg that amplify voices and ideas and spark new conversations.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
PwC as a firm taught me the most about work. It gave me both the technical foundation and the professional discipline that have carried me through my career. Beyond that, several individual partners at PwC shaped how I think about professionalism, leadership, and career progression.

One mentor who stands out, and who remains a mentor to this day, is PwC’s Global Head of Assurance. He’s not only a personal friend but also someone I first worked for more than 20 years ago, when he was a manager and I was a brand-new senior associate. That kind of long-standing relationship has been incredibly impactful, and I credit those early lessons and continuing guidance as pivotal in how I’ve grown professionally.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I wouldn’t say fear has held me back in my life, but one recurring fear has been not knowing enough about a topic to have an opinion. Early in my career, I sometimes worried that if I wasn’t the subject-matter expert, my perspective might not carry weight. Over time, I realized that was an irrational fear, because the multidimensional aspects of my education and professional experience allow me to bring a valuable lens to almost any problem.

I’ve addressed that fear in two ways: first, by intentionally pursuing a multi-dimensional path—across finance, academia, law, and strategy—so I always have a strong base to draw from. And second, by building the confidence to contribute even when I’m not the expert. People often respect a well-reasoned opinion that brings breadth and perspective, even more than hyper-specialized knowledge. For me, overcoming that fear has been about trusting my own foundation and leaning into the unique value I can bring to the conversation.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I love this question, because for me the answer is 100% yes. The public version of me is the real me. I just don’t have the time or energy to be anything but myself. There are moments where that authenticity works in my favor, and moments where maybe it doesn’t, but at this point in my life I don’t see value in spending extra mental energy trying to be someone I’m not.

What you see is what you get—the good, the bad, and the ugly. I value directness, I lean on humor, and I enjoy technical thought leadership and debate. Those are natural extensions of my personality, and I don’t apologize for them. Authenticity isn’t just a choice for me—it’s a priority.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
I know I would regret not pursuing my passion for academia. That’s why, even while working full-time and teaching full-time, I chose to begin my doctorate at UNC Charlotte. I’m a big believer in the Yerkes-Dodson law—the idea that performance improves under a certain level of stress or challenge—and I may even be a bit of a poster child for it. That balance of pressure and purpose has pushed me to my own peak optimization. So rather than let the opportunity slip away, I leaned into it. By doing so, I not only avoided future regret but also feel I’m performing at my highest level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.christinedgagnon.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-d-gagnon-9613556
• Other: https://linktr.ee/christinedgagnon

Image Credits
Tom Trevatt Photography