Biography

Book Chrissa Pagitsas through The Keynote Curators. 

Chrissa Pagitsas is the CEO of Pagitsas Advisors, an author, and board member. She and her team advise senior executives and boards at global companies on meeting growth targets and driving results through transformation strategies. Her leadership and expertise are rooted in seizing the opportunity to build Fannie Mae’s Green Bond business from zero to $51 billion—an industry-defining achievement at a Fortune 50 company. Her bestselling book, Chief Sustainability Officers At Work: How CSOs Build Successful Sustainability and ESG Strategiesprovides leaders of any business a roadmap on navigating disruptive innovations and markets successfully.

Chrissa Pagitsas has received multiple recognitions for her market-transforming enterprises including the first commercial Green Mortgage-Backed Security in the US. She serves on the Board of Global Impact and the Advisory Council of International Well Building Institute.

Chrissa Pagitsas holds an MBA from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, and a BA from Johns Hopkins University.

Contact The Keynote Curators for Chrissa Pagitsas’s fees and availability. 

Read More

Videos

Chrissa Pagitsas Keynote Speaker (March, 2025)

Leadership Unscripted: Effective Sustainability Leaders At Work

CSOs At Work with Chrissa Pagitsas featuring Emma Stewart, Sustainability Officer, Netflix

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

ADAPTIVE INNOVATION Thriving in the Disruptive 21st Century: How Successful Businesses Innovate and Grow

In this keynote, Chrissa reveals the disruptive forces shaping global business, from geopolitical tensions and economic volatility to wildly divergent consumer attitudes, AI transformation, and increased regulatory risk. Drawing on her own experience building a $51 billion bond business during a similarly challenging environment, Chrissa introduces a proven framework that will inspire leaders to innovate and drive meaningful results. Highlighting executives across diverse industries who have successfully navigated these complexities, she reinforces how these principles can empower businesses to meet the moment and find new growth. Leaders will leave with a clear roadmap for navigating uncertainty and turning disruption into opportunity.

RISKTAKING LEADERSHIP The Art of the Calculated Leap: How Visionary Leaders Take Risks for Success

This dynamic keynote ignites a growth mindset for senior executives to aspiring leaders to develop a clear vision and manage the risks surrounding it. Drawing on insightful data and captivating case studies—including her own corporate executive experience—Chrissa equips audiences with a playbook for evaluating, managing, and capitalizing on risk with clarity and confidence. Designed for leaders at all levels, this keynote inspires attendees to unlock their potential and empower their teams, offering new tools for turning bold decisions into drivers of growth.

RESILIENT TEAMS Building Resilience: Businesses and Teams that Drive Lasting Value Creation

Thriving in a world of constant change and disruption starts with building a culture of resilience and adaptation. Drawing on her own experience and insights from exemplary leaders, Chrissa Pagitsas equips executives and their teams with the tools to turn inward and deploy strategies to navigate uncertainty and drive long-term success. Chrissa also explores how resilience extends beyond internal operations, emphasizing the role of product innovation, partnerships and pilot programs in accelerating the development and adoption of value-creating solutions. Designed for leaders across industries and functions, this keynote leaves businesses with a powerful playbook to embrace change, inspire new ways of thinking across teams, and create a sustainable culture built to last.

SUSTAINABILITY VALUE Commercializing Sustainability: Creating Value, Accelerating Impact

In an era of political turbulence, rapidly evolving regulations and stakeholder pressures, and shifting corporate commitments, leaders face evermore challenges and complexities—and opportunities—with sustainability. In this keynote, Chrissa demonstrates how corporate sustainability must and should connect to tangible business value to achieve meaningful impact. Drawing on her experience as Fannie Mae’s head of ESG and in building its $51 billion green finance business, Chrissa offers actionable strategies for “commercializing sustainability.” Deeply experienced sustainability leaders to those just learning about it will leave this keynote inspired and armed with a blueprint for how to integrate sustainability with strategy, strengthen partnerships, accelerate progress, and drive measurable results.

Testimonials

Chrissa’s experience, expertise and dedication made all the difference in shaping the event into a resounding success. Her keynote address was both insightful and inspiring. Our customers found the event not only relevant but also highly collaborative and engaging.
– Hilti North America
As our keynote speaker, Chrissa hit the exact note for our audience: revealing the big-picture vision for the future for sustainability and business while clearly laying out how to execute on practical actions today.
– Matt Ellis, CEO, Measurabl
Without a doubt, Chrissa Pagitsas was the best choice as our conference’s keynote speaker. As a dynamic speaker, Chrissa engaged our audience and created a real-time conversation on ESG leadership and business.
– Nima Farshchi, Executive Director, Smith School of Business, University of Maryland
Chrissa has made a very important contribution to the growing field of sustainability and ESG. Business leaders and investors would all benefit from reading Chief Sustainability Officers At Work and engaging with Chrissa on the important topics presented in her work.
– Aniket Shah, Global Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Finance Strategy, Jefferies

Booksby Chrissa Pagitsas

CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICERS AT WORK: How CSOs Build Successful Sustainability and ESG Strategies

Amazon

Blog Posts

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with These Keynote Speaker Latino Voices

Hispanic Heritage Month keynote speakers who transform stages with authentic Latino voices, resilience stories, and leadership lessons that last.

Read More

How Seth Godin Transforms Publishing for Books—and What Event Pros Can Learn From It

Marketing provocateur Seth Godin reveals his approach of chapters in his books and how event planners can revolutionize content creation using his riff format.

Read More

The Mindset Shift That Transforms Adrenaline Into Leadership Fuel With Theresa Payton

Transform rejection into resilience with proven mindset strategies from the first female White House CIO Theresa Payton.

Read More

Olympic Champion Apolo Ohno’s Blueprint for Success

This week, we had a top keynote speaker, Apolo Ohno, as a guest on The Keynote Curators podcast, where he shared the performance principles that carried him through eight Olympic medals and now guide his success in business and speaking.

Read More

Crisis Management Lessons From 9/11: Why Top Event Leaders Prepare Before the Alarm Sounds

Crisis management begins before alarms sound. Learn how 9/11 lessons translate to event leadership and prevent disasters.

Read More

Four Health Pillars That Transform Business Performance

Learn the four health pillars Olympic champion Apolo Ohno uses to maintain peak performance in business and life when perfection isn't possible.

Read More

Related ESG – Environmental Social Governance Speakers

Contact Us Today

  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.