“We are spurred by our personal goals tempered by reality.” ~ Bill Flax
You might be surprised to learn that my primary major in college was economics. I bounced around from the School of Engineering to several life science majors to international relations and then ended up loving economics. 7 years after undergard, I went to business school and econ was one of my favorite classes while many of my other classmates groaned at the thought of it.
The economy is the world’s largest machine, dynamic and always being tinkered with. It is the manifestation of our collective consciousness, our hopes and fears, our expectations, disappointments, and triumphs. It is our living, breathing history.
Bil Flax’s article in Forbes Magazine this month reminded me of how much we have to learn from watching the economy. He clearly and succinctly lays out its main tenants in a single page. He untangles some of the mystery and takes out the trepidation felt by those just beginning to study the economy. He brings it to a human level. He reminded me of why I majored in econ and the principle that driven my entire career – leverage.
In recent months leverage has gotten a bad wrap. It’s connotation denotes reckless spending and irresponsibility. The kind of leverage I’m talking about is the opportunity to make a difference. Think about what you’re doing every day. How many people is it helping? And in helping those people, are they enabled to then help others, and so on down the line. I’m in the process of making my next career move and this definition of leverage has been on my mind a lot lately. My greatest wish is to be useful, to look back from the other side of this life and say, “What I did with my days made an enormous difference in the lives of others. I helped as many people as I possibly could.”
So how am I going to get there? I’m going to lever up. I’m going to inspire, encourage, and provide wellness in all its forms to people who want to help others be well. This is economics at work.
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
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