Christine Simmons is the founder of Alis Volat Propriis, LLC, a strategic consulting firm that advises businesses on operational excellence, strategic planning, business development, and representation initiatives among other things. She speaks globally on topics of Business, Strategy, Leadership, Inclusion and Powerment. Previously, Christine was Chief Operating Officer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the first Woman and Black person to hold the position. In that role, she created the first-ever, Office of Representation, Inclusion, and Equity.
Before joining the Academy, Christine served as the President & COO of the three-time WNBA Champions, the LA Sparks. Prior to joining the Sparks, Ms. Simmons was an EVP with Magic Johnson Enterprises where she evaluated investment opportunities and was responsible for business development. With over a decade of leadership experience in creating strategic alliances, leading business development and driving corporate initiatives, she has worked with many Fortune 500 corporations and multi-million dollar companies.
A proud UCLA alum, she currently holds seats on UCLA Foundation Board of Directors and the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Advisory Board. She is a Past President and Director on the Board of the UCLA Alumni Association. She is on the Advisory Council for Playbook Makers, Spry, Next Play Capital, Shared Harvest Fund, and MyCOVID MD. She also volunteers for Better Futures for Thomazeau, a nonprofit that provides aid and is currently building a vocational school in Haiti. A huge advocate of mentoring, Christine formally mentors the next generation of Black and Brown women through Cari Champion’s foundation, Brown Girls Dream, and has informally mentored countless others.
Her dedication to excellence and passion for giving back has earned her a number of honors including: 2022 LA’s Best Community Champion, 2022 On Con COO of the Year Finalist, 2020 CSQ Los Angeles Visionary, 2019 YMCA Brotherhood Award, 2018 Ebony Power 100 List, LA Business Journal’s list of 500 most influential people in Los Angeles (2016-2018) and 2017 WISE LA Woman of Inspiration. Her proudest achievement is being mom to her son, Christian.