Connecting with Christine Choi

How have relationships influenced your professional development and leadership style?

It’s all about the people, and I have been fortunate to learn from the best. The people in my community have also enabled opportunities beyond my abilities and experiences beyond reach. These included being part of the founding team of Teach For America, launching KIPP schools, transitioning from nonprofit to the business world, leading communications for Virgin’s space companies. None of these would have opened up for me without people by my side. And I try to bring that humility and learner mindset to everything I do. 

Do you have any tips for maintaining and building strong relationships?

Stay in touch in your own personalized way. For me, that’s in-person meetups. They are hard to scale, but sharing experiences strengthens connection, and it is more real than digital banter. It is also hard to be anything but authentic when you’re walking together or sharing decisions. I organize gatherings for my different communities and find them so satisfying. 

How have you intentionally built inclusiveness into your circles?

I am fortunate to be part of supportive groups that seem to naturally foster safe spaces. It’s important to intentionally work at keeping them safe, keeping them inclusive. Also, Richard Branson showed me the importance of listening. He would pay close attention and ask questions, keeping the discussion going so that many perspectives are shared. 

What community or communities are you proud to be a part of?

All of them. Whether it’s Teach For America or KIPP, college, Virgin family, Limitless women, or LatAm entrepreneurs, they each represent a part of my personal growth and continue to nourish me. The way I contribute to others’ journeys is through my current role as partner of M13, where we support our startup founders by filling gaps in expertise as they scale. It keeps me connected to entrepreneurship, a community that is truly motivating.

Who’s a Connector that's made a difference in your life? 

Nathan Rosenberg is the CMO of Virgin Voyages and a dear friend who sees each of our unique gifts. I may have left Virgin four years ago but he helps me feel connected to the group by asking me to participate in programming. It’s a wonderful feeling to stay in the family.

It's an honor to feature inspiring change-makers across industries who share their stories and words of wisdom about how to build meaningful relationships. Catch up on #CONNECTED with our recent guests, including Rena Greifinger, Niki King, Anna-Marie Harling, Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas, Stacy London, Olivia Albrecht, Erin Gallagher, Blessing Omakwu, and more!

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships.

Follow Susan on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram and order her new book, The Lost Art of Connecting, also available on Kindle and Audiobook.