Empowering Leadership: Christine Whitney Sanchez Honored with 2024 Excellence in Leadership Award

At Mission Facilitators, we believe that leadership is about more than just guiding organizations; it’s about cultivating a culture that empowers people to thrive in an ever-evolving world. This philosophy is at the heart of our mission, and it’s why we established the Excellence in Leadership Award—to recognize those who have made significant contributions to leadership, culture, and community.

This year, we are proud to announce Christine Whitney Sanchez as the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Leadership Award. As the former Chief Culture Officer at Arizona State University’s Enterprise Technology office, Christine has been a driving force in creating a culture that harmonizes technology with the human experience. Her work at ASU exemplifies what it means to lead with vision, adaptability, and a deep commitment to the well-being of both individuals and organizations.

Why Christine Whitney Sanchez?

Christine’s tenure at ASU was marked by her ability to seamlessly blend individual development, leadership, inclusivity, culture, community, and technology. Under her guidance, the Enterprise Technology office didn’t just keep up with the rapid pace of technological change—it thrived by ensuring that people and technology worked hand-in-hand. Her efforts have left a lasting legacy at ASU, one that continues to inspire and influence organizational culture far beyond the university.

“Christine’s influence on our organizational culture has been foundational and of enormous importance. Her contributions will have a lasting impact as we continue our commitment to creating and maintaining a thriving, values-led culture,” said Lev Gonick, Chief Information Officer at ASU Public Enterprise.

Dean Newlund, CEO of Mission Facilitators, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Christine led a significant movement at ASU to blend individual development, leadership, inclusivity, culture, community, and technology. But her influence has been felt in many other organizations, locally, nationally, and internationally. This is why we honor this culture change leader with our annual award.”

A Deeper Dive: Cultural and Technological Transformation

To further explore Christine’s insights on cultural and technological transformation, we had the pleasure of interviewing her on our LEADOVATION podcast, hosted by Dean Newlund. In the episode, Christine shares her journey, her challenges, and the innovative approaches she used to create a resilient and forward-thinking organizational culture. You can listen to the full interview [here].

About Christine Whitney Sanchez

Christine Whitney Sanchez is a transformative leadership expert with a career spanning five continents. Her work has empowered countless consultants and change leaders to embrace strength-based approaches and self-organization, profoundly impacting organizations worldwide. As a former psychotherapist and inaugural Chief Culture Officer for Enterprise Technology at ASU, Christine has touched the lives of tens of thousands, helping them navigate complex challenges and discover new growth opportunities.

Outside of her professional life, Christine engages in daily life as a spiritual practice through yoga, hiking, swimming, meditation, global travel, and photography. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Hawaii and a Master’s in Counseling from Arizona State University.

We invite you to learn more about our work at Mission Facilitators and explore our case studies, insights on culture change, and leadership development strategies. Visit us at www.mfileadership.com to discover how we can help your organization thrive.