Rising Stars: Meet Christine Leuthold

Hi Christine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
I’m first generation in the United States and am dual American and Swiss.

I grew up in the Northeast, in NY and CT, but have lived on the East and West coasts, from SF, DC, Atlanta, and Sarasota, FL, and now live in Santa Monica with a toehold in NYC. Abroad, I’ve lived in Shanghai, Taipei, Paris, and most recently, London.

I come from a very creative family and have been exposed to a lot of different cultures and ways of living. It’s made me a good listener and someone who can look at situations from multiple perspectives.

Though I majored in Chinese and Business in college (Georgetown University), my professional background has been in brand strategy, marketing, community building, and storytelling. I am a creator, producer, and disseminator of social impact content for engagement and positive change — and a filmmaker.

For me, it’s really all about the ripples that happen when authentic connection happens.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I really believe that “when a door closes, a window opens.” For me, “struggle” is part of how we evolve and grow, so I don’t really think of struggles as a negative.

A couple that come to mind are intertwined… my divorce after 25 years of marriage and relocating to Los Angeles.

When I relocated as a newly divorced single woman to LA, where I really didn’t know anyone.

In 2012, my husband and I decided we should retire from our 25-year-long marriage. (I mean, if we can retire from a job that isn’t right for us, why can’t we do the same with relationships?) So, three years later, I decided to relocate from Atlanta to Los Angeles. I had a very strong sense of community there, but I was yearning for the ocean, open skies, the food culture, and the creative mindset that is out here.

I didn’t know a lot of people here… at all, though I did have ties to Esalen. So, grounded by beach walks and my new kundalini yoga practice, I made a point of exploring the city, including the arts district flower market, and film screenings and lectures. I also became a volunteer for Food Forward, which got me closer to the amazing food culture of the Santa Monica Farmers Market.

When I moved from a temporary studio on Ocean Avenue to my first real LA home off of Montana, I hosted monthly collaborative dinners for about 5 years until Covid came on the scene. Everyone brings a vegetarian or vegan dish and a bottle of whatever they want to share. I still do them now in my new place off of Main Street, and these gatherings have fed me as much as the people who join in!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work:

I believe in creating ripples through authentic connection and collaboration. I often use film and screened content to do this. This includes the over 50 online screening salons that I’ve presented since 2019, with my next series, Hope, Sweet Hope, starting on April 16. I’m also directing a feature documentary film in production, with the working title of IN THE NAME OF HOPE. The film and impact campaign will focus on the journey from homeless to “homed.” It is such a critical issue right now in LA, as well as nationally and beyond.

An ongoing theme in my work with clients as well as my talks, interviews, workshops, courses, and articles, is the importance of building and nurturing relationships and community.

The projects I’m focusing on now are as:

– Director of IN THE NAME OF HOPE, a character-driven documentary feature about the magic that happens when people move from homeless to home. It’s not only about the courage it takes, but also the support partners that make it happen. We’re doing a Kickstarter campaign right now. I hope your readers check it out!

Looking back:

In the 1980s, I was at the forefront of what is now called ‘corporate social responsibility’ when I was the Public Relations Director for Ralph Lauren Corporation. That’s when I first began creating and implementing brand-aligned social impact initiatives. Ever since, I have integrated the greater good into my professional endeavors.

Here are some career highlights: 

– Producing a top-security gathering for Nelson Mandela on his post-prison visit to New York

– Leading a series of cause-related marketing, fundraising and philanthropic initiatives for The Ralph Lauren Corporation

– Launching a United Way family volunteering initiative

– Participating in a collaboration with the Institute for Muslim, Christian & Jewish Studies

– Leading fundraising and outreach initiatives for at-risk youth for Communities in Schools (CIS)

– Co-directing the Esalen Inspirational Film Festival in Big Sur

– Producer and moderator of panels and Q&As for the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, SCADTVfest, Women in Film & Television, etc. (something I LOVE to do, so feel free to reach out!)

– Authoring my book, Comfort Living: A Back-to-Basics Guide to a More Balanced Lifestyle, a how-to book about creating “home”

What sets me apart:

I listen with ALL of my senses and am very collaborative. I seem to be able to connect seemingly unrelated dots, and I absolutely LOVE finding paths of least resistance to make the kind of magic happen that builds community, engagement, and positive change.

Most Proud of:

I’d say I’m most proud of the film I’m directing, which will soon be renamed FROM HOPE TO HOME because it’s giving me a chance to change the narrative about a critical issue.

Much earlier in my career, I was a pioneer of what is now called Corporate Social Responsibility and have been able to take my experience forward as my career has evolved. As the Public Relations Director for Ralph Lauren Corporation, I was hired to create and implemented brand-aligned social impact initiatives as a way of conveying the brand. The ripple effect is that, ever since, I’ve been able to integrate the greater good into my professional endeavors.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t really think of ‘risks’ as risks because I’ve always said that my “comfort zone” is actually located just outside my comfort zone! The thing about daring to go outside them is that they become achievements.

Even as a child, I made a point of intentionally challenging myself so that I could grow while being true to who I am.

So was my decision to major in Chinese back in the 80s when no one was thinking about China as a superpower. Back then, only a handful of universities even taught Chinese. I also took a risk when I decided to spend my junior year studying Chinese in Paris so that I wouldn’t lose my fluency in French. And getting divorced after 25 years of marriage was a risk, too, but we both realized that it was the right thing to do. (People have said that we did conscious uncoupling before it really was a ’thing’.)

And now, as a first-time film director, I’m taking a risk. But it’s a calculated one because I have assembled an amazing team, including my producer, Steven Ullman, our DP/Editor, Timmy Vatterott, and our Executive Producer, J. Todd Harris. We also have incredible advisors and mentors, including Anna Scott, who many people know from her reporting on homelessness and housing insecurity for KCRW and NPR; Pat Mitchell, media executive, producer, and longtime Board Chair of The Sundance Institute; and seasoned filmmakers like Adam Schomer, of Selling Superman and Jennie Lew Tugend, of the Lethal Weapon and Free Willy films. We also have partnered with The National Coalition for the homeless, Covenant House, and the LA Regional Food Bank. I also credit all of my past screening salon featured guests, as well as our fiscal sponsors, The Film Collaborative, the Sundance Collab, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, and DocNYC Pro, as key contributors to the foundation I have as a filmmaker. (Equally important is that I can count on them for sound advice.)

So, it’s not really as much of a risk as one might think!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stonesoupripple.com/; https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inthenameofhope/in-the-name-of-hope-a-documentary-film / ;
  https://inthenameofhope.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChristineLeuthold/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StoneSoupRipple
  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/christineleuthold_announcing-stone-soup-ripples-spring-22-activity-6908508227080740865-pfYf/?trk=public_profile_like_view