In Conversation with Christine Jasper
Tell us about your background:
I grew up in a small university town in Northwestern Wisconsin. I was surrounded by people who loved me. My family and closest friends always encouraged me to learn about the world and to make a positive impact on it. Ever since I can remember, I have loved clothes and have used "fashion" as an outlet to express myself. (Yes, even with those cute purple short overalls I had as an 8-year-old.) I lived in Ecuador and Spain during study abroad experiences and eventually made my way to Romania with the US Peace Corps.
After graduate school, I found myself back in Eastern Europe managing multi-million dollar grant programs for US government-funded democracy and governance projects. Ultimately, I ended up in the Washington, DC area juggling work and a family. I continued to work in international development and, more recently, for a start-up organization that created an online platform for secondary education.
About six or seven years ago, I started to learn more about the "ethics" of my closet. Prior to that I never thought too much about where my clothes came from or what impact their production had on the environment or the communities in which they were made. I was forced to face the fact that many of the companies I supported over the years had horrible records when it came to making clothing. Over the years, I have increased my knowledge around these issues. The pandemic prompted me to really dig into how we can drive more sustainability in the fashion industry. I have taken full advantage of online resources to learn about everything from circularity to preferred materials. I have since resolved to use my decades of experience in managing programs, strategic planning, data analysis, and communication to contribute to efforts aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of apparel production.
When I am not studying sustainability issues or attending inspiring co-lab events, I am trying to keep up with my two teenagers. Even though I miss the times when they were younger, I love seeing how they are growing into amazing young adults. I have lots of other passions, too; these include walking in the woods, photography, cooking & baking, happy hours with neighbors, yoga, reading, and skiing (can’t wait for snow!).
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
I wish I had known that my "career" might not go as planned! When I started out, I was very rigid about my career goals. After gaining experience, I have seen that nothing is set in stone and it's important to be open to new opportunities. I've had incredible professional experiences in a number of areas that I never anticipated, such as education and platform development. As a result, I have grown as a person and as a professional.
Best career advice you've ever received?
Never stop being relevant. There is always something you can do to go above and beyond the job description.
What leadership qualities are important to you?
Empathy, gratitude, clarity, and a desire for everyone to succeed. Good leaders want everyone to do the best work that they can! To do this, it's important to have clear goals. It's also crucial to acknowledge the unique contributions of each team member. Finally, everyone performs better in a compassionate environment; being kind and understanding only enhances work relationships and creates stronger teams.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
I cannot overemphasize the challenges of being a good parent and successful professional. I've had very high expectations for myself on both fronts and have had to learn to dial those back--which is 100% ok! We are all doing the best we can.
And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?
Chunky cotton sweaters (ideally organic) when it's cold and peasant blouses (ideally Romanian) when it's warm!
