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The Pearl, Charlotte’s Innovation District with Hillary Crittendon
TOPIC: The Pearl, Charlotte’s Innovation District
SPEAKER: Hillary Crittendon
The Pearl, anchored by Wake Forest School of Medicine, is a 30-acre mixed-use development that includes education, retail, apartments, a hotel, open community space, and health science research facilities. Located next to uptown and Atrium Health’s flagship hospital, it aims to drive economic growth and job creation in the Charlotte Region.
This presentation will explore how public-private partnerships, educational collaboration, and strategic business development are fueling growth in the district. The Pearl exemplifies how innovation district can power transformation across education, research, healthcare and economic mobility–delivering a model of inclusive innovation that is uniquely Charlotte.
BIOGRAPHY
Hillary Crittendon joined Atrium Health in early 2021 and serves as Head of Operations and Strategy for The Pearl, Charlotte’s innovation district.
Prior to joining Atrium Health, Hillary was the Director of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, a 30-member CEO council based in Charlotte which is focused on influencing economic mobility, policy and economic development solutions for the region. She joined the CELC via McKinsey, where she served as a consultant in various capacities over nearly 5 years.
Hillary holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Masters in Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has experience in investment banking, having served as an analyst at Credit Suisse, and in financial fundraising in the private equity and hedge fund industries. She also co-founded The Brandshop, a startup marketing and consultancy focused on supporting growth of high-end female-owned retail and lifestyle brands.
Hillary serves on the board of the Urban League of Central Carolinas and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE). She also serves on the Advisory Board for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System’s Career and Technical Education Program and on the Auxiliary of the Mint Museum.
