Celeste LeCompte

I’m passionate about creating an informed, engaged public.

Currently, I’m working as an operations, strategy and communications consultant for a portfolio of nonprofit and media clients. Previously, I was the Chief Audience Officer at Chicago Public Media, the vice president of strategy and operations at ProPublica, the director of product at GigaOM Research, the research manager for the California Clean Energy Fund, a co-founder of Climate Confidential, and the managing editor of Sustainable Industries magazine. I’ve also been a freelancer writer and independent consultant.

My work — across journalism, research, and product development — centers on listening to people, analyzing data, identifying patterns, and solving problems. As a media leader, I am inspired by, and participate in, efforts to refashion the news business to meet the needs and interests of communities while sustaining the journalists who create it. I’ve launched and grown editorially aligned revenue programs — memberships, subscriptions, custom publishing, data products — in all of my past news roles.  

I believe that playful, creative engagement is critical to developing communities where trust, respect, and collaborative problem-solving are possible. That’s why I’m a trustee with the Awesome Foundation (Awesome on the Water and AwesomeNYC) and an active board member member of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club, where I co-organize paddle-in movie nights, concerts, and other cultural events on my favorite local Superfund site. I also represent the club on the EPA’s Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group and participate in the City Council-appointed Gowanus Oversight Task Force. 

As a journalist, I covered innovation and the environment for more than a decade. I continue to advocate for better science communication as a board member for the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing.

Also, I love riding my bicycle and exploring urban waterways around the world.

Want more professional details? Find me on LinkedIn.