Kristina Libby: Building a ‘Brain Renaissance’ Through Art, Storytelling, and Technology
Jessica talks with Kristina Libby, her collaborator for The Cohort: an Ampersand community.
Kristina is a storyteller, artist and technology executive originally from Damariscotta, Maine, and now based in New York City. She founded the Floral Heart Project, a COVID memorial initiative purchased by 1-800-Flowers, for which she was awarded a Hero of 2022 and named one of the leading public artists for Social Change. Last year, she wrote and produced her solo show, I Almost Died for This?!, which won the Best Storytelling Show Award at the prestigious United Solo Festival and is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2026.
Kristina writes for film and television. With co-creator Tim Cahill, she developed the award-winning television script Penny Starts A Cult, and the television show and indie pilot, Books. She is also a fiction novelist whose work is represented by Sterling Lord Literary. As a humor and non-fiction writer, she's been published in the New Yorker, McSweeney’s, the Boston Globe, Salon, Popular Mechanics, and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Kristina has served as a fractional Chief Communications Officer for numerous companies and start-ups and holds a Masters degree in International Security.
Follow Kristina’s work at kristinalibby.com, lightvlight.com, and on Instagram at @kristinamlibby.
Check out Kristina’s rom-com podcast, Couldn’t Be You (Meet Cute Originals).
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About The Ampersand Manifesto:
What happens when you refuse to choose just one path?
On The Ampersand Manifesto, host Jessica Wan sits down with “the most interesting people at the dinner party” – those who have made their mark in two or more seemingly different worlds. Through candid conversations, we explore what it takes to navigate multiple callings, find the connection points between them, and redefine success on our own terms. Together, we’re co-creating The Ampersand Manifesto: principles for leading a multi-passionate life.
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About your host, Jessica Wan:
Executive Coach | Classical Singer | Former Marketing Leader & Tech Executive
Jessica helps founders and leaders make the invisible visible. With 20+ years of experience scaling brands like Apple, Smule, and the San Francisco Opera, and as an ICF-certified executive coach, she provides the clarity and strategy needed to lead bravely and find fulfillment in a multi-passionate life.
Work with Jessica: Book a Free Intro Call
Join The Cohort: An Ampersand Community for Dual-Career Professionals
Follow the Journey: @ampersandmanifesto
Connect: Jessica’s LinkedIn
Listen: Singing Excerpts
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Credits
Co-produced and hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, mixed, and original music by Carlos Schmitt
