About


Who is Elaine?

I’m a digital professional, an experienced writer, a lifelong traveler, and a voracious nerd, currently based in New York after many years abroad.

Before returning to NYC (the city of my birth), I have also lived in the U.K., Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Japan.

I’m a big believer in the power of storytelling and building communities to push us towards better versions of ourselves.

I love learning new things, deep diving into heady & complex societal topics and constantly challenging myself to make consciously ethical and environmental choices about how I exist and explore the world.

Career-wise...

I started out my working life in journalism, first as a newswire reporter before joining the wild world of early-aughts new media. After serving as Asia Editor for tech blog Gizmodo.com and then Managing Editor at Gothamist LLC’s Shanghaiist.com outpost, I pivoted to the advertising industry.

I‘ve held many positions in marketing and communications since, both agency-side and in-house at an architectural exhibition and at two different media companies. My last role was CMO of a multimedia organization called The China Project.

I have a Bachelors in Journalism and Sociology from New York University, a MBA from the University of Cambridge, and am currently studying for an MA in Climate & Society at Columbia University. Interested in more about my resume?

Connect with me on LinkedIN

And Beyond That...

  • I currently lead the New York Chapter of Young China Watchers, a global community dedicated to fostering the next generation of thought leaders on China affairs. Our New York team hosts regular expert speakers, cultural events, and networking meetups. You can find more information on YoungChinaWatchers.com and look out for our events on Eventbrite.
  • I am part of the team behind the Climate Film Festival, New York’s first and only climate-focused, city-wide annual film festival. During Climate Week NYC, we screen several dozen films across multiple genres, all with a climate focus. Learn more about it at climatefilmfest.com and keep up with the Instagram to be alerted about pop-up events throughout the year.
  • I volunteer regularly for GrowNYC, which provides essential sustainability services and opportunities to make NYC a greener city. You can find me relatively often giving out information at one of their various greenmarkets uptown.

Also, this website has served as a repository of the projects that I work on for me. After spending a good hunk of 2019 traveling and 2020 reevaluating what I wanted to dedicate my free time to building, I started a journey dedicated to “existing ethically.”

I hope to utilize this space and my Youtube Channel to explore what that means and what people can actually do to evaluate & change systems.

Existing ethically, to me, means we make contributions to a world where as many people as possible can live lives that are healthier, more open, and more vibrant - where we can embrace sustainable practices without sacrificing overall enjoyability in a way that's equitable to the most diverse range of human beings possible.

Is it anthropocentric? Sure - the world's going to be here long after we leave it, and I figure my time is better spent figuring out ways to not leave it too fast, and having a good time while we're still on it.

Follow along! And subscribe if you want to get sporadic updates in your email.