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Christine S.

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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Christine S.

Experience

Jul 2025 — Present
The Culture Backbeat

The Culture Backbeat

Founder & Principal Consultant

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.

Jun 2025 — Jul 2025
T. Rowe Price

T. Rowe Price

Vice President, Senior DEI Advisor

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.

Mar 2023 — Jun 2025
T. Rowe Price

T. Rowe Price

Vice President, Head of Diversty, Equity, & Inclusion - Global Distribution

Jan 2022 — Mar 2023
Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley

Executive Director, Regional Diversity Officer - New England

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.

Aug 2019 — Jan 2022
Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley

Vice President, Regional Diversity Officer - New England

  • 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.
Jan 2019 — Aug 2019
Guardian Life

Guardian Life

Director, Head of Diversity & Inclusion

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.
Jan 2018 — Dec 2018
Guardian Life

Guardian Life

Diversity & Inclusion Manager

Jan 2016 — Dec 2017
Guardian Life

Guardian Life

Talent Management Specialist

Feb 2015 — Jan 2016
Guardian Life

Guardian Life

Graduate Intern, Talent Management

Jan 2012 — May 2016
Baruch College

Baruch College

Adjunct Professor

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.
Jan 2011 — May 2016
Baruch College

Baruch College

Graduate Research Assistant

Sep 2009 — May 2011

Villanova University

Research Assistant

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.