Meet the Staff: Chrissy Shea
Blog Post by Michelle New
March 2022
In honor of Women’s History Month, Project Glimmer would like to showcase the women working in our organization. Chrissy Shea, the Executive Director and CEO of Project Glimmer, works to actualize our mission of inspiring girls to envision their own empowered future.
She began her career in advertising and marketing, working on brands like Levi Strauss & Co, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Ingrid & Isabel and moved to San Francisco to New York City and back to San Francisco again. Some of the most meaningful moments of her earlier career were working on initiatives that gave back. This, along with becoming a mother, fueled her desire to focus on making a difference in the world, giving kids equal opportunities and enabling them to thrive.
She’s been leading Project Glimmer for 7 years and feels that, “It’s truly been the most purposeful work of my life”! I had the opportunity to ask Chrissy a few questions about her work with Project Glimmer.
Chrissy with attendees at Project Glimmer’s Day of Empowerment
“The empowerment of women is recognizing her value, building her self-esteem, and providing her with a network of support.”
What part of Project Glimmer’s mission inspires you the most and why?
I’m incredibly proud of Team Project Glimmer which includes our board, staff, donors, volunteers, and partners who have supported our mission to inspire girls to envision and realize an empowered future. My hope is that every girl in this country has the opportunity to create a life of her choosing with the support of her community behind her. It’s the emails, texts, voices, and smiles shared by the girls who receive Project Glimmer gifts, who are inspired by the incredible role models who share their personal and professional stories at Empowerment Events, who are motivated to go for their goals after attending Empowerment Academy. It’s these moments that motivate me to continue our work, together.
What is your definition of empowerment and how has it changed through working at Project Glimmer?
To me, the empowerment of women is recognizing her value, building her self-esteem, and providing her with a network of support. Since working at Project Glimmer, it’s abundantly clear that together, we need to empower girls starting at a very young age. In order to break the cycle of poverty, abuse, and neglect, we must help build confidence and a greater sense of self in our girls. What’s been incredible to see over the years, is the sheer number of people who have raised their hand to help support Project Glimmer and ultimately help lift the next generation of women leaders. It embodies hope.
Share a story of one of your favorite PG moments.
There are so many meaningful moments, but I’ll focus on a recent event held at Project Glimmer’s San Leandro warehouse over the holidays for foster youth. Over 100 girls attended and were able to shop for gifts, fill their bags with essential goods, receive makeovers, and a suitcase compliments of Tiffany Haddish. We invited one of our foster care program managers to lead the group in a ‘flash mob’ style spontaneous dance. I was skeptical of her idea, will people really get up and dance? Are people still doing these? The answer is absolutely yes! It was awesome, every girl, volunteer, CASA, foster parent, and staff member were on their feet. It was a community coming together, it was so much fun, it was inspiring!
Who is a woman in history that you admire and why?
Allyson Felix, the most decorated Track & Field athlete of all time. Last year, I had the honor of meeting Allyson who was one of Project Glimmer’s 2021 Star Award Honorees. I admire Allyson not only because she is an incredible athlete, arguably the greatest woman track athlete of all time, but also because she stands up for her beliefs and uses her voice to make a difference in the lives of women and girls. When Nike cut her salary by 70% after she became pregnant, she walked away, spoke out, and eventually Nike changed its policy! Much like on the track, it took great courage and determination. She’s making the world a better place for her daughter and for girls everywhere. This resonated deeply with me, for my own daughter, for the girls we serve, giving me purpose in the work we do every single day.