Christine S.

Washington, DC, USA

Driving Growth Through People Systems | Inclusive Culture & Talent Strategy Expert

Christine R. Smith, Ph.D., melds a rich background in organizational psychology with over a decade of hands-on experience in talent, culture, and inclusion, guiding growth-stage companies through pivotal evolutions. A People & Culture Strategist at the helm of The Culture Backbeat, she partners with leaders to ensure their people systems—including hiring, leadership development, and employee experiences—are finely tuned to support sustainable growth. Her approach, deeply rooted in evidence yet highly attuned to real-world demands, focuses on creating environments where teams thrive and culture remains intact under pressure, ensuring the business scales without losing its essence.

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Experience

The Culture Backbeat
Founder & Principal Consultant
Jul 2025 - Present
The Culture Backbeat helps organizations build strong cultural foundations to drive performance, fuel innovation, and sustain growth by blending psychology, leadership experience, and evidence-based insights in their strategies.
T. Rowe Price
Vice President, Senior DEI Advisor
Jun 2025 - Jul 2025
T. Rowe Price is an independent investment management firm based in Baltimore, offering a wide range of investment products and services for individuals, institutions, and financial intermediaries with a focus on fundamental research and disciplined investment strategies.
T. Rowe Price
Vice President, Head of Diversty, Equity, & Inclusion - Global Distribution
Mar 2023 - Jun 2025
Morgan Stanley
Executive Director, Regional Diversity Officer - New England
Jan 2022 - Mar 2023
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm offering a wide range of investment banking, wealth management, and securities products and services to clients worldwide.
Morgan Stanley
Vice President, Regional Diversity Officer - New England
Aug 2019 - Jan 2022
- Developed and executed a comprehensive regional diversity strategy impacting 6 complexes and 48 branches across the New England Region.
- Implemented professional development programs tailored for financial advisors from underrepresented backgrounds, enhancing their career growth and representation.
- Led inclusive leadership workshops for 1,200 leaders, focusing on unconscious bias and relationship building with diverse client segments.
- Organized brand-enhancing community activations to strengthen Morgan Stanley's presence and commitment to diversity in the region.
Guardian Life
Director, Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Jan 2019 - Aug 2019
Guardian Insurance, established in 1860, offers a comprehensive range of insurance products and financial services, focusing on customer-centric solutions and innovative offerings.
- Executed Guardian’s enterprise Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategy to enhance employee skills and cultivate external partnerships.
- Selected for an executive leadership program to develop an AI tool for optimizing investment decisions, reflecting high potential and cross-functional collaboration.
Guardian Life
Diversity & Inclusion Manager
Jan 2018 - Dec 2018
Guardian Life
Talent Management Specialist
Jan 2016 - Dec 2017
Guardian Life
Graduate Intern, Talent Management
Feb 2015 - Jan 2016
Baruch College
Adjunct Professor
Jan 2012 - May 2016
The City University of New York (CUNY) is the largest urban public university system in the United States, dedicated to providing high-quality education to a diverse student population across 25 campuses.
- Taught undergraduate courses in Psychology of Advertising, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and Occupational Health Psychology.
- Conducted graduate-level classes in Organizational Psychology, nurturing advanced understanding and research in the field.
Baruch College
Graduate Research Assistant
Jan 2011 - May 2016
Villanova University
Research Assistant
Sep 2009 - May 2011
Villanova University is a private university located in Pennsylvania, known for its strong academic programs and commitment to the Augustinian values of truth, unity, and love.