We Built This City: Christine Sperow
By Mercedes DeFano
When one thinks about of the women involved in The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC), the words active, busy, compassionate, and dedicated may be some of the first to come to mind to describe any one of our amazing members. There is no difference when choosing words to describe JLC active member Christine Nelson Sperow. This is evident by the fact that her day begins while most of us are turning over in bed and starting a new dream. Because of her job as a news anchor for WBTV, her day starts around 2 a.m. and she is on air by 4:30 a.m., prepping Charlotte for the day ahead. As if that early morning start time isn’t enough to make you need a nap, she still finds time for her community, friends, and family — she has two children, ages nine and seven, to keep her on her toes!
Christine started her Junior League career in Texas, and after moving to Charlotte she decided to continue her membership and transfer to the local chapter, where she has been heavily involved for the past ten years. She has served in various roles including Communications Manager on the Management Team; Vice Chair for Marketing and PR; and member of the Nominating, Membership Meeting, and Speakers Bureau committees. She has also been both the Assistant Editor and Editor for The CRIER, a JLC magazine publication. After serving ten years as an “active” member of the JLC, Christine continued her dedication to the organization as she transitioned to her role as a sustaining member. Currently, Christine is still serving in a leadership role as the Sustaining Advisor to the Communications Council.
Christine says she was drawn to the JLC “because of the history of making a difference in the community…I wanted to be a part of continuing that legacy and admire the leadership qualities of the women in the JLC.” Her League membership not only influences her personal life, but professionally as well. She attributes the training opportunities available through the JLC to helping better her organizational skills, which have helped her when managing people, problem solving, and creating short/long-term goals.
Her professional accolades exemplify these skills, as well as her commitment to community involvement. She is a distinguished news anchor having the privilege of interviewing some names you may recognize, like Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush. She has also won an Emmy for her work around organ donation. Outside of the JLC, she is involved in the March of Dimes, The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and the National Association of Black Journalists. These are all testaments to her involvement in the community.
One might think from the long list of leadership roles and professional accolades that leadership is something that comes naturally to her. However, when she began her first leadership role in the JLC in 2011, she constantly questioned if she was “ready.” But without that first step, she never would have known her full potential for leadership, and she has never looked back. Her confidence in how to be an effective leader was developed, and this has affected all aspects of her life. She feels the JLC “really is in tune with how women are evolving and finding a voice and place at the table.” The trainings and workshops offered by the JLC are one of the things she thinks attracts women to become members, and the opportunity to apply their learnings into the community is what makes them stay.
Her biggest lesson from being a member of the JLC: “No one is going to allow you to fail.”
