What do others have to say about me?

You can read more references on my LinkedIn, but here are a few to get you started!

From a former Manager

“Chisa has super-powers of organisation and empathy. I hired her to build out EngineerBetter's Product Management and Transformation capability from scratch, which she did to great effect. Her team loved her, and were the most contented of any in the organisation. She showed great commercial awareness, which made her a valuable confidant.

Chisa is naturally no-nonsense, and has the social sensitivity and diplomacy to cut through bullshit while ensuring that everyone feels heard and respected. She dealt with some very complex engagements, making sense of chaotic situations that our customers found themselves in. She later did a great job of turning her skills inwards to diagnose and treat the various maladies of our parent company, Container Solutions.

We rarely disagreed, but when we did it was professional and respectful. Perhaps one of our best moments was when we disagreed on a call with her team - she set an example of how to disagree and make a principled stand in a firm and constructive manner.

Chisa helped me with various diversity and inclusion issues, speaking both from personal experience and knowledge of the subject matter. She offered advice and guidance in a level-headed and pragmatic fashion, without any zealotry.”

From a former peer

“Working with Chisara was game changing. That’s why my co-author and I found a special place to interview her in our book, "The Designer’s Guide to Product Vision".

Chisara's hard-to-come-by skill set is, not coincidentally, the most challenging to develop: she’s strategic, a creative diplomat and natural facilitator. She uses these skills to cut through the chaos, and guide teams toward an agile order and stability. She both delivers a team to that better place, while growing their abilities so they can sustain themselves there.

In my experience working with Chisara, she was able to do this with a large team—a team that was very much stuck in antiquated ways of doing things. And at the time, she made it look effortless. I’ve watched many others fail attempting to do the same, only to appreciate her talents, more.

Since our time together, Chisara has found new masterful levels of professional growth. She not only builds stable teams but helps those teams think differently and better harness data to inform their decision making. Again it sounds so obvious, but most product teams don’t practice this disciplined, elevated way of working because it is so very challenging to get right. Chisara will get your team there. I’ll definitely look forward to finding a way to work with her again.”

From a former report

“I had the privilege of working closely with Chisara during her tenure as Director of Product and Delivery at EngineerBetter, and I can confidently say that she is an exceptional leader in every sense of the word.

Chisara possesses a rare combination of empathy, determination, and strategic vision that sets her apart in the industry. As my manager, she consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of our team's strengths and areas for growth, guiding us with unwavering support and mentorship.

One of Chisara's greatest strengths is her ability to lead with empathy while maintaining a focus on results. She fostered a culture of accountability and inclusivity, ensuring that every team member felt valued and empowered to contribute their best work. Her dedication to understanding and addressing customer needs was unparalleled, driving our team to deliver solutions that truly made an impact.

Beyond her impressive leadership skills, Chisara is a strategic thinker who is not afraid to tackle complex challenges head-on. She possesses a keen eye for detail and a knack for identifying opportunities for improvement, which proved invaluable in driving our team's success.

Chisara is not just a manager; she is a catalyst for positive change and growth. I have no doubt that she will continue to inspire and empower those around her, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside her.

Without hesitation, I highly recommend Chisara to any organisation seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking leader who can drive results with compassion and integrity.”