I attended my favorite panel at SXSW by accident. A lovely woman attended the yoga class I was teaching. When I told her that I teach through Compass Yoga, my nonprofit, she told me that I should go to the panel down the hall entitled Mother Goose Got Punk’d: Next Gen Storytelling. The panel consisted of photographers and filmmakers who dedicate their careers to telling the stories of mission-driven people and organizations. They offered practical advice, inspiration, and encouragement on how to drive home a message to support a cause.
After the session, the panelists headed to a lounge nearby for a meetup. I usually don’t talk to people after panels. I get shy and rarely feel comfortable rushing the table once the mike goes out. However, I loved this topic so much and wanted to meet the panelists to tell them about Compass. At the meetup, I spoke with Ben Henretig, Creative Director of Micro-documentaries, a company dedicated to helping nonprofits create short-form videos to illustrate their work.
I told Ben about Compass and found out that he is also a yoga and meditation teacher, has been to India to study, and really believe in the practice. “You have a system that heals people and this is the right time for it. Dream bigger and bigger and bigger and don’t give up.” I walked away from our brief conversation feeling both inspired and with a small inkling that this conversation served a very specific – to let me know that this is the right path, that there is no turning back, and that this cause is needed in the world. My favorite SXSW 2012 moment.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
6 thoughts on “Leap: My Favorite SXSW 2012 Moment”
Thank you so much for sharing your story of synchronicity. I love it! I love how the Universe extends Her hand of Love to guide us when we are on the right path. Namaste. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a microdocumentary about Compass .:)
PS, would love to hear more about this panel when you get back. I have a feeling this is going to be a prominent part of the mix for both Compass and my own stuff.
Fuzzy at the moment, but I think the idea is to capture execs talking about how they’ve made the business case for sustainability at their companies. PJ and Amy are managing that bit, so I’m not sure who they’ll work with, but it sounds like an awesome crew.
Christa Avampato 
Thank you so much for sharing your story of synchronicity. I love it! I love how the Universe extends Her hand of Love to guide us when we are on the right path. Namaste. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a microdocumentary about Compass .:)
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Thank you so much, Mary. I love these types of moments. They keep me going. I do think we’ll have a documentary someday for Compass!
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Small world! We’re working with Micro-Documentaries to produce some pieces for CEF.
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PS, would love to hear more about this panel when you get back. I have a feeling this is going to be a prominent part of the mix for both Compass and my own stuff.
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Michael – that is so cool! What are the docs about? Have you been working with Ben? Will tell you all about it when we catch up next week.
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Fuzzy at the moment, but I think the idea is to capture execs talking about how they’ve made the business case for sustainability at their companies. PJ and Amy are managing that bit, so I’m not sure who they’ll work with, but it sounds like an awesome crew.
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