Christine Barber
About Christine Barber
Christine Barber is the Director of Research at Gensler, where she has led over 300 research projects and oversees global and local initiatives. With a background in workplace research and a strong focus on design innovation, she actively contributes to discussions on hybrid work and workplace safety.
Current Role at Gensler
Christine Barber serves as the Director of Research at Gensler, a position she has held since 2007. In this role, she oversees both global and local research initiatives funded by the Gensler Research Institute annually. She acts as the principal investigator for selected signature research efforts, leading a network of over 1,000 practitioners and researchers. Her leadership contributes to the advancement of knowledge in workplace design and organizational strategies.
Previous Experience at Knoll
Before joining Gensler, Christine Barber worked at Knoll as the Director of Workplace Research from 1988 to 2007, a tenure of 19 years. In this capacity, she focused on workplace trends and research, contributing significantly to the understanding of workplace environments and their impact on productivity and employee well-being.
Education and Academic Background
Christine Barber studied at Columbia University, where she completed Graduate Studies in Social and Organizational Sciences from 2005 to 2007. She also holds a B.S. (Hons) in Business from Baruch College, where she studied from 1991 to 1995. Her educational background supports her expertise in research and workplace design.
Research Contributions and Publications
Christine Barber has championed over 300 research projects throughout her career, focusing on business, demographic, and workplace trends. Her work has been published and cited in prominent publications such as Fortune magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and BusinessWeek. She has been actively involved in discussions regarding the future of hybrid work and its implications, as well as research on mitigating virus risk in workplace settings.
Professional Affiliations and Community Involvement
Christine Barber has held various leadership roles in professional organizations. She served for five years as the Vice Chair of the CoreNet Strategy & Portfolio Community for the NYC Chapter. Additionally, she was a Board Member for the Catalyst Innovation Lab at New York University and an active member of designX at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning, focusing on design innovation and entrepreneurship. She also contributed to the Fashion Institute of Technology Board of Advisors for the Graduate Sustainability Program.