Micaela Christophe, MBA, is the 36-year-old vice president of event management at BNY Mellon. She's based in Bronxville, New York.
What I do:
I’ve managed corporate events at the Bank of New York Mellon for the last five years, and currently sit as a vice president of event management under our marketing and communications division. My role focuses on enhancing the stakeholder experience by managing in-person/virtual internal events—quarterly C-suite level town halls, senior leader meetings, holiday engagement parties, HR recruiting events, DEI programming, etc.—and external client-facing events like industry conferences, advisory council meetings, golf/tennis outings and private client receptions.
Why I love my job:
I love having the ability to take an initial idea and bring it to life through experiential events and programming. Every event journey is different, and my role allows me to tap into the NYC melting pot to gain inspiration for venues, catering and marketing.
My career journey:
I started my career in luxury home furnishings, where I focused on managing hospitality and merchandising projects—including the annual renovation of Donghia’s 18,500-square-foot flagship showroom in the Decoration & Design Building in NYC. Under the guidance and mentorship of the iconic Charles “Chuck” Chewning, I ultimately realized my love for event production.
After a few transitional roles in between, I was contacted by a recruiting company to interview at BNY Mellon. I began this journey working in marketing project management and eventually shifted into event management as there were tons of transferable skills. This is a great reminder that you don’t need to start your career in events to get your foot in the door.
My greatest career accomplishment:
In May 2021, I was included on the EMpower 100 Ethnic Minority Future Leader list supported by Yahoo Finance. This award showcases business leaders who are breaking down barriers at the workplace and contributing significantly towards DEI and representation within their firm. It was an honor to be selected and be in the company of many change agents across industries.
How I helped my organization during COVID:
In 2020, I recall the feeling of concern as my event peers across the industry were losing their jobs due to pandemic closures and city shutdowns. My events were predominantly in person, and that quickly shifted to 100% virtual with very minimal time for training. As a highly regulated bank, my firm had many restrictions on the types of virtual platforms we could leverage. WebEx was our enterprise-wide preferred platform.
In a short time, I made it my duty to become a subject matter expert. My hunger to stay informed and share relevant updates and guidance became an invaluable asset to my entire events division. I provided numerous training sessions to colleagues across the firm, and worked to partner with our tech support team for consistent branding so we show up well across the firm in this virtual landscape.
The time I averted a complete event disaster:
I managed a client golf outing and with a 70-plus headcount; the timing had to be perfect. I created all the email communications, managed registration, worked with the venue on catering and show flow, managed client gifts, managed budget. Every box had been checked—or so I thought. The day before the event, the venue informed me that the start time noted on the contract differed from my email communication. I know—rookie mistake!
I reached out to my business partners immediately to inform them of my screw-up while proposing an alternative solution. The weather reports were calling for a big storm affecting much of the tristate area. Given the inclement weather, we pushed back the overall start time. Due to our swift action, clients arrived and didn’t miss a beat. Ironically, the club pushed back all events, as the rain did in fact cause a damp course and the venue needed time to dry. In the end, it all worked out, but it reinforced my mantra: If a mistake happens, own it! We are human. Take responsibility, then fix it!
My most memorable event experience in the past year:
In February, I had the pleasure of managing an event with the iconic change maker and civil rights activist Ruby Bridges. As a Black woman championing diversity and inclusivity in my firm, I was profoundly impacted by her story. Hearing a first-hand account of desegregation efforts and her bravery at 6 years old is a memory I will never forget. I was privileged to successfully manage this virtual event, which reached over 1,000 employees across the globe. Still in awe.
Best advice I’ve ever received:
In any career, when requesting a promotion, make it easy for your employer to advocate for you. Write down your accomplishments. Document your wins. Keep business partner testimonials on your work (even if it’s just an email). Having a digestible document that showcases your development on a high level makes the task easier for employers who are advocating on your behalf.
Impressive stats I’m responsible for:
The last in-person event I managed in 2020 took place right before the NYC shutdown for COVID in March of 2020. BNY Mellon hosted their annual kickoff event for International Women’s Day. We had a packed house with approximately 300 attendees on-site. The following year, when we had to transition to a completely virtual program, we made sure to test consistently for a seamless virtual experience. We also used our budget to secure thought leader Dr. Bernice King as our keynote. We ended up surpassing our attendee goal—four times higher than the previous year—and had a 95% show-up rate!
This year, I managed BNY Mellon’s recent Black History Month event featuring a keynote discussion from civil rights trailblazer Ruby Bridges. Across the board, there is typically 35-40% attrition, and a show-up rate around 60+% for virtual events over the last few years. This event had an 80% show-up rate, with over 500 additional views for the on-demand replay. Not only am I proud of the turnout, but it speaks to the content that people will tune in to hear.
What’s next?
In-person events are back, and I will have my hands full managing numerous executive leadership experiences and client gatherings. As the event landscape grows, I look forward to delivering amazing in-person activations and challenging myself on new ways to take each event to the next level.
What I do outside of work:
I serve as a founding junior board member for the nonprofit organization Part of the Solution. This firm helps 30,000 New Yorkers struggling with poverty each year. The pandemic disproportionately affected those living in the Bronx, with an even larger effect on the African American and Hispanic populations. In 2020, I worked with my fellow board members to gather donations for the POTS’ Emergency Assistance Fund, which was created to provide grants to low-income clients who were at risk for eviction.
In 2021 I was also appointed to the Steering Committee for the Harlem YMCA bai program, which aims to develop youth into future leaders through college readiness and career exploration. I work with fellow committee members and the YMCA to review scholarship applications and contribute towards the execution of their annual achiever’s gala.
Lastly, when I have some downtime, I spend it with the people who mean the most to me, my family and best friends.
Dream vacation:
Where do I begin! I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to this exact question! I would love to visit the Philippines. I would stay at the five-star Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa located in Boracay island. I’m currently imagining views of the ocean from my luxury villa featuring a private plunge pool. Then after a few days enjoying their authentic cuisine and white sand beaches, I’d hop on a plane to Italy. I’d head to Tuscany and enjoy their thermal hot springs and gorgeous vineyards for wine tasting!
Favorite icebreaker line:
Not sure that I have a specific one-liner, but being a lover of fashion, I tend to spot a fabulous outfit and start off with a compliment. That usually breaks the ice and allows for the conversation to continue.
Connect with Christophe on LinkedIn.
“Connect x BizBash 40 Under 40” is sponsored by VDA, an experiential marketing and event design agency based in Massachusetts that specializes in custom live, virtual and hybrid experiences.
