Christine Koh: From Brain Science to Digital Media and Creative Diplomat

Welcome! This episode feels like sitting down with the smartest, funniest friend at the dinner table — the one who somehow makes you feel calmer and more ambitious at the same time.In this wide-ranging conversation, Christine Koh shares the winding path behind her kaleidoscope career — from music cognition researcher and academic to pioneering blogger, creative director, strategist, podcaster, and trustedadvisor to mission-driven leaders.She reflects on growing up in a Korean immigrant family, navigating a toxic workplace, becoming a mother, and ultimately choosing work that felt creative,meaningful, and deeply human. Along the way, Christine talks about launching Boston Mamas during the early blogging era, helping shape the future of influencer marketing through Women Online, and discovering her unique abilityto guide organizations through difficult conversations and moments of friction.The episode is also filled with joyful sidebars — from baking elaborate cakes and learning tennis in midlife to gardening, activism, parenting teens, and why curiosity may be the greatest career skill of all. 00:00 Curiosity To Campaigns00:50 Show Introduction01:46 Meet Christine Koh02:41 Life Today AndWork04:07 From Scarcity ToPhD06:31 Leaving Academia07:13 Boston MamasBegins10:08 Making the Leap12:18 Design BusinessTwist13:52 Books PodcastsConsulting16:32 Women OnlineImpact20:07 Next steps: DiplomatPractice23:10 Motherhood andMeaning28:42 Speed Round Fun34:09 Activism andGiving Back37:14 Advice for Others Resources:Where to find Christine https://www.christinekoh.com/Podcast & Substack: Edit Your LifeSubstack: There’s Always a StoryRecommended reading:BOOK Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead: A Novel by Mai Nguyen------------About Your HostHelen Jonsen lives a kaleidoscope career built on decades of experience as a strategic adviser to corporate, nonprofit and public leadership, and a multi-platform journalist and speaker.As a speaker: Helen is available for keynote workshops and firesides on This Kaleidoscope Career, including women’s leadership and empowerment, and on topics to help you strengthen your spoken message and deliver it with confidence. Learn more at helenjonsen.com or email [email protected]’s new book: This Kaleidoscope Career: Empowering Women to Build Unconventional Careers and Redefine Success will be published by De Gruyter-Brill in September 2026. Listen: In This Kaleidoscope Career podcast Helen helps leading women reframe their nonlinear careers across various industries, nonprofits and government, and helps others who aspire to unlock a successful kaleidoscope career. “This Kaleidoscope Career Podcast” is a production of helen jonsen media. https://www.helenjonsen.com/#this-kaleidoscope-career----------Online Course: Command the Room: Develop Your Signature Remarks Toolkit for Leaders Hosted and written by Helen Jonsen in production with GenConnectU and LinkedIn Learning: A practical communication course for leaders who want to speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. Register here and use discount code: COMMAND15 for 15% off enrollmentTKC pod is edited on Descript. Learn more here https://descript.cello.so/u00D6MnPTT0Join Innovation Women. Do you want to speak for a living? Join a community of speakers supported by a platform. Learn more here: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=96435&awinaffid=2281255&ued=https%3A%2F%2Finnovationwomen.com%2Fjoin%2FAffiliate Disclosure: This content contains affiliate links. helen jonsen media will receive a small commission at no cost to you.