About Carissa

I’m Carissa. I help leaders and teams put plans into practice.

Founder and President of Alinea Strategies, now leading it full time. CAP, PM. Former Chief of Staff, with 15 years alongside C-suite executives and boards.

Carissa Burgett in a cream blazer, seated backwards on a chair
2026International Chief of Staff of the Year Award winner

Trusted experienceOrganizations and communities Carissa has supported

  • The Hershey Company
  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
  • Diligent Corporation
  • Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
  • NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association
  • IAAP
  • ASAP
  • The Beacon Institute
  • Girl Scouts of the USA
  • The PA Way
My background

Leading from every seat.

I’ve spent 15 years working beside C-suite executives and boards, in operations, governance, strategic planning and leadership. I also recently finished five years on the IAAP Foundation Board, the last as its Chair and President.

That gave me a view of leadership from almost every seat. Through Alinea, I use it to develop leaders, guide teams and help organizations put their plans into practice.

Carissa Burgett’s signature
Carissa Burgett lying upside down on a sofa with her feet up, reading
Carissa Burgett seated on a city bench, smiling
Carissa Burgett with the IAAP Foundation Board of Directors, 2025-26
Professional distinctions

Recognized for leading from the inside.

  • 2026International Chief of Staff of the Year Award winner
  • 15 yearsalongside C-suite executives and boards
  • Chair & Presidentof the IAAP Foundation, capping five years on its board

Credentials & honors

  • Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
  • Project Management certification, IAAP
  • Executive Leadership & Communication Certificate, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
  • IAAP Member of Excellence, 2019
  • Strategic Partner of the Year finalist, The Admin Awards, 2022
  • International Assistant of the Year finalist, The PA Way, 2022

Featured in

Executive Support MagazineProfile, Apr/May 2026
OfficeProProfessional spotlight, Aug 2025
The story behind Alinea

Why I started Alinea.

For more than 15 years, I’ve had the opportunity to experience leadership from different sides of the table. I’ve worked alongside executives and boards, led teams, navigated complex organizational challenges, and helped turn ambitious ideas into meaningful progress.

Along the way, I learned something about leadership, and about myself. Being capable doesn’t mean you have to carry everything. Having experience doesn’t mean you have all the answers. And sometimes, the hardest decision isn’t figuring out how to move forward. It’s recognizing when something needs to change.

By many traditional measures, I had built a successful career. I was proud of what I’d accomplished and the people I’d worked alongside. But I also knew I wanted something different. Not because the work I’d done no longer mattered, but because I was ready to build something that reflected what I’d learned, what I valued, and the impact I wanted to make.

That’s how Alinea Strategies came to life.

The name Alinea represents a new beginning, a new line of thought, and the possibility of what comes next. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t always mean starting over. Sometimes it means bringing everything you’ve learned into something new.

Today, I work with leaders, teams, and organizations navigating their own moments of growth, complexity, and change. My approach is grounded in real-world experience, honest conversations, practical strategies, and a belief that meaningful progress begins when we’re willing to see things differently.

Alinea is where what’s next takes shape.

Carissa Burgett standing on a tree-lined street, hand on her hip

How I work

The Alinea Approach

Thoughtful questions. Honest conversation. Practical takeaways.

I start by listening: what matters to you, what’s in the way, and what would make our time worthwhile. Then I pair honest feedback with encouragement, and tie every idea to something you can actually do next.