Introducing 2012 ProInspire Fellow: Christine Wang
Name: Christine Wang
Hometown: Plain ol’ Plano, TX
Previous Employer: Chase
Current Organization: Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
I always knew that I wanted to return to the nonprofit sector, which I was deeply involved in throughout high school and college. I had originally entered the for-profit sector partially in fear of unemployment (I graduated in 2009, at the height of the recession) and also partially to focus on building the skills that an intensive banking program could provide. I had toyed with the idea of leaving Chase for about a year when my grandfather passed away suddenly. I was reminded, then, that I only had one life to live and that I was in the privileged position to be able to something more than just getting by—to do something that I really loved. This switch is the first step in my pursuit of that passion.
What is your current position, and a typical day like?
I’m currently working as a Program Associate for the Flexible Leadership Awards Program at the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. As in many nonprofits with small staffs, there really isn’t a typical day. In general, I am supporting my program manager Paula with her interactions internally, with consultants, and with grantees, from drafting memos to tracking the program budget to facilitating convenings. I am also working on several longer term projects focused on creating systems and processes for a relatively young program.
Where did you work prior to making the switch?
For the past three years, I worked for Chase as an underwriter in their Not-for-Profit and Healthcare group, evaluating the financial health of and providing financing options for those types of organizations, including social service organizations, private schools and universities, cultural institutions, and healthcare entities.
What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
My entire professional life, prior to ProInspire, had been at Chase, and the expertise I built there was in financial analysis and client management. I managed a portfolio of over 50 clients as their primary contact for all credit-related transactions and recommended action through both oral presentations and written memos. I also spent three summers conducting the training program for and managing my group’s interns.
What are you involved in outside of work?
I recently moved to San Francisco from New York City, so I’m still learning about the various opportunities out here. Historically, I’ve volunteered with organizations in the education sector and hope to continue that work on the West Coast.
Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
While at Chase, I created and conducted the training program for and managed my group’s summer interns. In that process, I developed the materials for the training, organized many different parties to actively participate in the training, and guided the interns with their ongoing development over the course of the summer. Those skills have translated well to my current role, where my program serves as a hub for multiple consultants living in various locations and grantees that operate on a national level. In addition to being able to juggle many different parties with different priorities, my leadership experiences taught me how to work independently and take initiative. As my program continues to evolve on a daily basis, I am able to react and adapt to create new tools and accommodate different demands as I am asked to wear different hats in my role as a program associate.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy has reported that 82% of nonprofit CEOs are white. What does this mean to you and other people of color who aspire to leadership roles in the future?
While the statistic may connote significant barriers, I think it presents me and other people of color a fantastic challenge to rise above in the coming years. The leadership of our nation’s institutions has evolved so greatly over the past 50 years and I am excited to be part of a generation of leaders who will continue to push forward and shape the demographics of nonprofit leadership in the next 50 years.
If your friends and enemies had to describe you in three words, what would they be?
Honest, focused, and loyal
What book are you reading right now?
I’ve just started Cloud Atlas, which came highly recommended by a friend, and in preparation for the new movie coming out starring Tom Hanks.