Riding along with Elisabeth Zeller, CEO, on her first 60 days

Here we are with another in our occasional series focusing on Craft3’s new CEO, Elisabeth Zeller. Previously, we shared a conversation with Elisabeth about her career, her approach to leadership, and how she thinks about finance as a tool for justice and setting strategy.  

Since starting at Craft3 in November, Elisabeth has been all in. She’s learning and listening, asking questions, visiting our offices across Oregon and Washington, and connecting with staff who work fully remotely. She’s also meeting with partners, funders, and legislators. Amidst all of this, she’s also focused on 2026 planning and budgeting. Elisabeth’s plate is full.  

Given this, rather than a conventional interview, I invited Elisabeth to share some brief aphoristic reflections by completing a fill-in the blank about her first 60 days as CEO. Such brief responses may pique your curiosity and prompt questions. Please share those questions by filling out the form at the bottom of this post. We will select questions to answer on social media and in a forthcoming blog post.

My first 60 days as CEO, completed by Elisabeth Zeller

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‍On the road with Elisabeth

There’s nothing like a road trip to get to know someone. As the miles roll by, there’s opportunity for leisurely conversation and little need to artificially fill the silence.  

In December, Maya Cutforth, Organizational Development Manager, traveled with Elisabeth from Portland to Astoria, Oregon and back again. Here’s some of what she learned.

“I was a bit nervous about my road trip with Elisabeth, but within the first few minutes of our drive, I felt comfortable. First off, Elisabeth offered me homemade cookies. As a fellow baker, I was delighted to try her peanut-buttery-chocolatey creations. They absolutely rocked.  

The conversation flowed naturally. Elisabeth asked great questions and took a genuine interest in my personal and professional experiences. She also was super open to sharing about her life – how she made her way to Oregon, the importance of her family, and her vision for Craft3. I was particularly impressed with her clear care for both the work of Craft3 and the people who do that work. And I appreciated Elisabeth's shared passion for talking about the cows we drove past.

Perhaps my favorite part of our conversation was talking about the importance of friends in our lives and how we grew close to them. It’s clear to me that Elisabeth has a deeply fulfilling life as a leader, mom, community member, and friend.”

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