Christie Lam

What I Do

What I Like To Make

A longer introduction

Hey, hello.
scroll to the bottom of the page for my CV.
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I am currently serving as Senior Cooperative Business Consultant at the ICA Group. My role provides strategic and financial advisory services to small businesses and worker cooperatives, in particular, supporting worker buyouts of conventional businesses into worker cooperatives. I also lead and manage our strategic planning projects, conduct coaching and training on cooperative governance, and support clients in achieving sustainable business growth. With a background in business strategy, research, and facilitation across global markets, I leverage experience in business planning, human-centered design, and organizational development.

In previous and current roles I have worked with large multinational corporations, major cultural institutions, local government, natinoal public bodies, and large nonprofit ecosystems.
I grew up in Hong Kong and then spent most of the past decade in and around London, and have fallen into Queens, NYC.

I hold degrees from the University of Cambridge and University College London in History and History of Art respectively. The rigour that graduate school has given me is part of all of my work, but I also think that impact, like real, true, impact, can also be through fun, care, and not being afraid to say what needs to be said.

I like to make other things too, like pottery, zines and music - I’m a mezzosoprano currently singing with The Choral Society of Grace Church, an amateur harpist / pianist, and a wavering pescatarian.

Download my CV as a PDF.
Authorized to live and work in the US + UK

The ICA Group

Senior Cooperative Consultant, New York
September 2024 - present

Vet and assess worker buyout opportunities through business valuation, financial due diligence, feasibility analysis, and multi-source acquisition financing. Industries engaged include childcare, independent publishing, home care, cleaning, and professional services.
Support and coach worker-owners (150+ to date) in democratic, participatory governance by training new member-owners to run decision-making and consensus-based processes themselves.
Manage multi-workstream projects end-to-end, including research, approach design, client relationship management, and deliverable creation.

Freelance Practice

New York
July 2023 - present

Developed research, stakeholder engagement, go-to-market plans, and financial models for two new nonprofit arts center launches.

B+A

Strategist, New York
November 2022 – December 2023

Executed business planning, product design and brand strategy projects for fast-moving consumer goods clients
Conducted primary and desk research to develop understanding of competitors and audiences, using focus groups, interviews, and quantitative surveys
Served as primary client liaison and presented findings to C-suite

AEA Consulting

Research Analyst, London + New York
March 2020 - October 2022

Developed business strategies including market strategies, pro forma financial models, and operational assessments exclusively for clients in the creative industries
Implemented mixed-method research across global markets
Produced deliverables catering to diverse audiences: ranging from media organizations, cultural organizations, to government agencies and real estate developers.
Chaired internal DEI working group and facilitated first DEI plan

EDUCATION

University College, London

M.A. History of Art, with Distinction

Dissertation: “Hung Liu’s “Chinese Prostitutes” and (inter)mediating history”
Specialisations: Weimar Germany Art & Architecture; Fin-de-siècle French painting; Contemporary South African Photography & Video.

University of Cambridge, Robinson College, UK

B.A. History (Hons), 2.i

Dissertation: “Everyday Life in London’s Chinatown, c. 1960-1990” (Oral history project)
Specialisations: South & East Asian Modernities, Gender in Republican China.

Skills, Topics & Languages

Business planning & financial modeling · Valuation & feasibility analysis · Coaching & facilitation · Project management

Worker cooperatives · Solidarity Economy · Mutual aid organizing

Conversational Cantonese, Conversational Mandarin, French

Publications & Presentations

The ICA Group, Understanding Internal Capital Accounts in Worker Cooperatives: Live Training and Resources— patronage allocation design and Subchapter T tax treatment for worker cooperatives.
Branding for Co-ops and Branding Agency Co-ops: with Big Duck.
Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre / Nesta, “The relationships between cultural organizations and local creative industries in the context of a cultural district” (2022)
AEA Consulting, Cultural Infrastructure Index (2019–2024), including “In Focus: Shenzhen, China” (2020)