Christy George, Intersect Illinois’s president and chief executive officer, received an email that made her day. While working long hours alone in her office, she learned of her nomination for the 2025 Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award.
“Yeah, I believe it was via email, and I was really surprised to receive it, but it was a delightful surprise. The Chicago Defender is just an incredible publication and organization. So, I was very honored but definitely taken aback when I saw the email,” she recalled.
Though George got word of her nomination during a mundane workday, her journey to becoming the head of the state’s economic development program is anything but ordinary.
Tackling Early Challenges: A Personal Journey
George’s path to success wasn’t straightforward. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she moved to Chicago 18 years ago and struggled to adjust to a new environment.
But through her determination, she was able to turn challenges into opportunities.
George credits a pivotal internship experience for steering her toward her future career. “I moved here about 18 years ago, and I truly fell in love with Chicago. I came here as an intern. Most people, when they study abroad, go far away—Europe, Africa or Asia—but I chose to study abroad in Chicago,” she said.
George interned at the Department of Children and Youth Services under Azim Ramelize, who became an influential figure in her life. Ramelize, a former member of a street gang who survived a shooting, motivated George to pursue law.
“His perseverance to never be seen as less than was so inspiring to me,” she said. “He’s the true reason why I wanted to become a lawyer.”
George’s journey to law school wasn’t easy either, especially since she wasn’t a natural at standardized testing. But she never let that hold her back. With financial struggles dampening her college years, she relied heavily on scholarships and found a way to keep going, even when circumstances were challenging.
“I was a Pell Grant recipient, but every single Wednesday, for about five months, I would go to our student resource center and I would apply for a different scholarship, just so I could afford college,” she said.
The Battle with Standardized Testing
Standardized tests became another hurdle for George—but one she turned into a source of strength. Speaking honestly about her exam struggles, she encouraged others who might share similar challenges.
“I would do great on the prep test, but as soon as I was in the actual exam room, I would bomb it. It was always nerve-wracking for me,” George confessed. Her fear extended to the LSAT and the bar exam, where doubts crept into her mind.
But George’s determination took over. When it came time to pass the bar to become a lawyer officially, she put extra effort into drilling with multiple-choice questions, a strategy that ultimately allowed her to succeed.
“I ended up passing the bar on the first go, but it’s because every single day, while I was studying for the bar, I sat and did multiple choice questions because I knew that was going to be the one area I was going to completely fail.”
Spoiler alert: she didn’t. Instead, she soared. She also offers empathy and advice to anyone who doesn’t consider themselves the best test taker.
“It’s okay to struggle with tests. You’re going to get past it. And stop putting so much stress on yourself because you can do this.”
Career-Defining Career Moments
George also experienced a collection of moments that helped to clarify her career path.
She recalled a moment while working for Ramelize when she said, “It’s Chicago or bust for me, and it’s working for the people or bust for me.”
She also found that her joy didn’t derive from being a courtroom litigator.
“There’s something so rewarding about being in public service that I could never replicate being in private practice. Even though, as a private practice litigator, I did great work, and there is nothing like being able to do good for the people.”
Her stint as assistant commissioner at the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection deepened her understanding of local government. She saw firsthand how regulations for Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb took shape—a crash course in legislative work that changed her forever.
Later, as the Executive Director of the DNC host committee, George tackled a steep learning curve in a role that allowed her to level up her skills and reinforced her belief in working for the community.
“After that point. I knew I would never, ever practice in a courtroom again,” she said. “I knew that I would forever do some sort of work that was mission-driven, policy-oriented, and while I have zero aspirations to be a politician, having a proximity to the political world was so intriguing to me and just so interesting,” she said.
“I knew that my career moving forward would involve some sort of policy, implementing that policy and doing it for the betterment of the people.”
Words of Advice
When it comes to the betterment of the next generation, she offers these words of advice:
“Recognize that you matter, that you have a unique voice, a unique perspective and you deserve to have a seat at the table,” she said, “And once you are at that table where the decisions are being made, it is your job to bring someone else to that table too, especially for women and people of color.”
“It’s really that easy, that simple: It’s to be inclusive in everything that we do.”
Looking Ahead
When asked if she had anything to add about her future, George quipped, “World domination? No, I’m joking.”
“From a professional perspective, I have a lot of things I’d like to do with Intersect Illinois. I would love to win certain types of projects, but my mission in life is also straightforward: I was put on this earth to problem-solve and help people. That’s it, and that’s all that I want to continue to do,” she said.
About Post Author
