CHrissie Bonner

Chrissie was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and spent most of her formative years in the Tidewater region of Virginia. 

In 1999 she moved to Philadelphia, PA and studied Art History at Temple University and Arts Administration at Drexel University, and Organizational Development and Leadership at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

She initially applied her education and interests to a career in institutional philanthropy at The Philadelphia Foundation, serving over 200 nonprofits in Greater Philadelphia for almost a decade. Through her conversations with hundreds of nonprofit leaders and staff, she became increasingly curious about the interconnections between organizational culture, creativity, and adaptation. 

Chrissie still lives in Philadelphia and, since 2014, has enjoyed her work as the Principal and Founder of Illustrating Progress, which has grown from a one-person practice to an agency that includes several highly skilled and diverse artists and professionals from across the country and globe. 

Her interest in visuals is rooted in cultivating the mindsets necessary for change and designing environments for people to be creative. She is passionate about hosting spaces for reimagining, deep listening and creativity. 

She has also illustrated several books, including And She Came Tumbling Down by Karla Adkins (2022), Bless this Mess: A Picture Story of Healthcare in America by Dr. Steven Klasko (2018), and Unstuck, her own picturebook about denial and self-deception (2021).

She regularly hosts workshops on creativity and teaches Adaptive Leadership in the Organizational Development & Leadership Graduate program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.