Christie Smith
Former C-Level Executive at Accenture, Deloitte, and Apple, Expert on Modern Leadership
- Has over 35 years of experience advising top executives at Fortune 500 companies and held leadership roles at Deloitte, Apple, and Accenture
- Bestselling author of Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership
- Helps leaders move beyond outdated productivity models to promoting productivity via a human-centered approach—one that builds trust and drives lasting results
- Equips audiences with practical tools to strengthen emotional maturity, navigate uncertainty, and lead with confidence
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About Christie Smith
Download ProfileDr. Christie Smith is a pioneering business leader with over 35 years of experience advising Fortune 500 C-suites on leadership, organizational transformation, and the evolving workforce. Holding global leadership roles at Apple, Deloitte, and Accenture, she has been at the forefront of redefining workplace strategy to meet the demands of a rapidly changing business landscape. She is the bestselling author of Essential, a leadership playbook that equips leaders with the strategies to navigate AI, distributed teams, and the future of work with a human-centered approach. She is currently a partner at Heidrick & Struggles, where she advises organizations on leadership development, culture, and transformation.
A champion of human-centered leadership, Christie has led groundbreaking initiatives that drive organizational resilience, employee well-being, and high-performance workplace cultures. Her ideas on leadership and fostering strong workplace cultures has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, CNN, and a multitude of distinguished business podcasts. Passionate about transforming leadership, Christie founded The Humanity Studio™, a research and advisory institute focused on creating workplaces where both people and businesses thrive.
Christie’s unique expertise—rooted in both corporate leadership and a doctorate in Clinical Social Work and Organizational Psychology from NYU—bridges the gap between business strategy and human behavior, helping organizations lead with impact. Christie empowers audiences to redefine leadership, embrace change, and build future-ready organizations.
Video Gallery
Christie Smith: Speaker, Author, C Suite Advisor
Christie Smith | Culturati Keynote
Christie Smith | What is the future of work?
Christie Smith | TEDx, It's time to get under the covers
Christie Smith Interview | Peacekeepers Live 2023
Christie Smith: Speaker, Author, C Suite Advisor
Christie Smith | Culturati Keynote
Christie Smith | What is the future of work?
Christie Smith | TEDx, It's time to get under the covers
Christie Smith Interview | Peacekeepers Live 2023
Speech Topics
Download TopicsAs AI and automation reshape the workplace, one thing is clear: business success—and economic growth—depend on people, not just technology. The best leaders focus on emotional maturity, adaptability, and inclusivity, recognizing that these “power skills” fuel engagement, innovation, and long-term performance. Drawing from her latest book, Essential, Christie explores the four human needs in the workplace—purpose, agency, well-being, and connection—and why meeting these needs isn’t just good for employees, but a strategic imperative for organizations navigating constant disruption. This session offers a roadmap for human-centered leadership that fosters trust, resilience, and sustainable high performance to create workplaces where employees and businesses thrive.
In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving workplace, leadership is harder than ever—and it demands more than just driving productivity. Moving business, and our economy, forward in this environment requires creating purpose, fostering trust, and embracing adaptability. With 62% of people lacking trust in businesses, resilience in leadership has never been more critical. Leaders must move beyond outdated management tactics and develop the emotional maturity, adaptability, and integrity needed to rebuild trust and navigate uncertainty with clarity. Christie Smith uncovers the essential skills of resilient leaders, from fostering psychological safety to making confident, people-first decisions in complex landscapes. This session provides actionable insights on developing emotionally mature leadership that strengthens organizations, drives innovation, and fuels a thriving economy.
Related Links
Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership
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