Home: Lansing, NY. Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA. Profession: Coach and consultant. Organization: Christa B. Downey Coaching & Consulting. Title: Founder & CEO. Alma mater: Carnegie Mellon University (B.S.); Miami University (M.S.).
Current project: Partnering with my favorite paddle shop owner to offer a paddling adventure workshop for female founders. Latest contribution to others: Founding member of Coaching for Everyone, an organization working toward making coaching more accessible, while also training more BIPOC coaches. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Playing ice hockey in my 40s. That felt bold until I started a podcast this winter and realized how much further I could push my comfort zone. Hobbies: Ice hockey, kayaking, swimming, boating, backpacking, skiing (Alpine, Nordic, water), cycling, running, reading. Recent travel or adventure: With our daughter to South Korea. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out JeJu. Last book read: Shared Sisterhood, by Beth A. Livingston and Tina Opie. Recently viewed and recommended: Yellowjackets (Showtime).
Personality profile: Curious, adventurous, encouraging, bold; maximizer, achiever. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Enthusiastic. What is your greatest joy? Water of all kinds: oceans, lakes, river, streams, swimming pools. What is your greatest fear? Running out of time. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? On adventures.
What was your first paying job? Babysitting. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Riding my bike around the cemetery near our house for hours on end. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My grandmothers. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Have a personal mission that guides your work. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Meal and grocery delivery services.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
I envision a world where everyone is living authentically, in alignment with their core values, owning their full power to have the greatest impact.
What change would you like to see in the world? Gender wealth parity, including gender parity among founders and capital raised, as well as gender parity in the C-suite. What message do you want to send out into the world? Consider the impact you aim to make in this world and take one step toward it today.
Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My grandmother. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? Independently wealthy. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Old photographs that I've been meaning to digitize. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Hiking in the woods with my husband and daughter.
Personal mission: Supporting others in becoming their most authentic selves, living in alignment with their values and leveraging their strengths to bring their boldest visions to reality for the greatest impact. Favorite quote: “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours” (Cesar Chavez). Desired epitaph: She lived life fully and authentically.
