Member Login
Join
Donate
Member Login
Join
Donate

Member Spotlight: Kristina Burke

By Meaghan Dunham Arena

Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city!

Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? 

I hail from Virginia, moved to Charlotte after Hugo, during Zo’s iconic winning shot and before South End was more than just Vinnie’s Oyster Bar, which means I arrived in the Spring of 1993. My career has spanned technology, operations, and organizational strategy, including executive roles in fintech, consulting, and startups (my favorite is the US National Whitewater Center). I enjoy turning good ideas into meaningful impact using simple tools and working with smart humans. Education and early life & leadership experiences: MBA from Duke University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech.

What makes our purpose or mission meaningful to you? 

Collective giving. It reminds me of the African Proverb – if you want to go fast go alone; if you want to go far, go together. Collaboration allows for a longer lasting impact.

What energizes/motivates you? It can be anything from a quotation, a song, a person, workout routine, etc.

Vision boards!

“And here’s the reward for the discomfort. Your heart will be fuller, your compassion deeper, your horizons wider and you memoir way, way, better. Before you die, make sure you have lived.” – anonymous marketer  – and yes, it’s cut out and on my vision board!

What are you the most excited about for this year?

Closing on the 2nd farm in the Carolina Farms Fund, a program of The Conservation Fund. The Fund strengthens local food systems and rural economies across the Carolinas by supporting farmland preservation and growth of next generation farm businesses. The mission reflects my belief that access to healthy food, sustainable land use, and community well-being are deeply interconnected.

Advice to make the most out of your Women’s Impact Fund membership?

Be curious. Create meaningful connections. This looks different for each of us. It may be introducing yourself to someone at one event and discovering their story, or it may be serving on a committee, or it may be learning about issues and organizations who are on a path to addressing them in our community. 

What is your favorite restaurant or activity in Charlotte?

I object. Unfair question! Pick one? That’s like choosing one friend over another. It can’t be done. It’s impossible. 

  • Restaurant: L’Ostrica 
  • Activity: mountain biking
Return to Blog
Scroll to Top

Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.