Join the Intelligence Project on Wednesday, September 16th, for a seminar with Christina Alfonso, a Senior Associate with the Intelligence Project and current Executive Director and President of the Council on Global Competition and Innovation (CGCI).
The defining challenges of this moment—from strategic technology competition and supply-chain vulnerability to the rapid commercialization of dual-use capabilities—cannot be met by government alone. Drawing from the Council on Global Competition and Innovation’s work, this dynamic session will explore why stronger alignment among public institutions, private enterprise, investors, and innovators has become essential to national resilience and competitiveness. Brief remarks will be followed by a substantive Q&A, inviting students to engage with the tradeoffs, opportunities, and leadership choices shaping this evolving landscape.
This session will tackle the following key themes:
- Why national security, technological innovation, and capital allocation are increasingly interconnected
- The need for institutions and partnerships that bridge public priorities with private-sector capabilities
- How founders, investors, operators, researchers, and public servants can help meet strategic challenges
- The leadership choices involved in pursuing innovation, resilience, competitiveness, and responsible growth
This session is open to Harvard ID holders and will be held under Chatham House rules. Registration is required. Light refreshments will be served.
Christina Alfonso is a Senior Associate with the Intelligence Project, and is Executive Director and President of the Council on Global Competition and Innovation (CGCI), where she advises U.S. government and private sector leaders on national security, economic statecraft, and emerging technologies. Her work focuses on market‑led national security, mobilizing private capital and industrial capability to build resilient growth in critical technology and defense‑relevant sectors.
Christina has served as an advisor at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and previously she co‑founded and served as Chief Financial Officer of Novata, and was co‑founder and Chief Executive Officer of Madeira Global.
She is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in National and International Security program and holds an M.B.A. from ESADE Business School in Spain and a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Fordham University. Christina serves on the Nasdaq Center for Board Leadership Insights Council, is a board trustee and Treasurer of the RWJBarnabas Health Monmouth Medical Center Foundation, has served on multiple policy and leadership advisory boards, and has extensive international experience, most recently in Brazil.
