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Meet Angela Cheng-Cimini, CHRO at The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and now a member of the newly launched HR Grapevine Editorial Advisory Board!
The Chronicle of Philanthropy is the preeminent source for nonprofit professionals committed to the advancement of the common good. Angela previously served as the Senior Vice President, Talent & CHRO for Harvard Business Publishing, home of the Harvard Business Review.
She brings 30 years of both generalist and specialist Human Resources experience, having worked across consumer product goods, professional services, and high-tech, as well as nonprofits.
In addition to having served on the Alumni Board of Directors for Cornell University, she is a member of CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council, a body of CHROs dedicated to advancing the practice of HR; is a Strategic Board Advisor for several early-stage startups supporting the future of work; and serves as an advocate for the AAPI community for several nonprofits.
Read on for our full interview with Angela, including her ultimate career advice for HR professionals, her sources of inspiration as a people leader, and a music recommendation to soundtrack your weekend!
Can you share a quick overview of your current role and why HR is so important to The Chronicle of Philanthropy?
As the CHRO of The Chronicle of Philanthropy (CoP), I serve as a thought partner to the CEO and Leadership Team to shape our strategy and operations. While my core competency is human capital, my time in various sectors across the entire life cycle of an organization brings the added value of experience with diverse best practices. We are still in our nascent stage, and I have been able to establish early a strong and solid talent strategy and employee experience.
What’s one lesson from your career that you’d pass on to a younger HR professional?
The one lesson I'd pass on is to be courageous. As HR practitioners, we must speak truth to power. If the environment is not conducive to hearing the hard news, be the force that helps it embrace one. Nurture allies and make facts your friend. If ultimately you are unsuccessful, know that you can do better and move on.
AI aside… is there any key work-related trend, issue, or impact you’re preparing for ahead of 2026 and beyond?
CoP sits squarely in the nonprofit sector, which is under attack in the United States. We are preparing for further disruption by performing scenario planning and shoring up our people practices so that we may withstand as many sea changes as possible.
Who or what is your biggest inspiration from outside of the HR world?
My biggest inspiration is my husband – my college sweetheart. He and I have forged a marriage that is thirty-plus years strong. He has achieved a level of contentment with life that eludes most of us. He teaches me to be present in the moment and have gratitude for our gifts without wanting more.
Angela Cheng-Cimini shares her music recommendation
Can you recommend a music album for our readers to unwind to?
One of my favorite albums is "Four Seasons of Formosa." It's a Vivalidi-esque take on Chinese folk melodies. The instrumentals are gorgeous and lush, just like the seasons and landscapes of Taiwan.
What is the HR Grapevine Editorial Advisory Board?
In case you’ve missed our updates, we’ve recently launched the HR Grapevine Editorial Advisory Board!
The Editorial Advisory Board will be a vital part of HR Grapevine's ongoing commitment to provide its audience of over 290,000 HR professionals with outstanding, industry-recognised content, packed with practical guidance and insights.
From rigorous, high-quality journalism to in-depth articles, interviews, case studies, podcasts, and events, the voices of HR practitioners are at the heart of HR Grapevine's editorial output - and we're thrilled to be taking this step to ensure our content continues to be as timely, relevant, and useful as possible to the industry.
Our Editorial Advisory Board is formed of a deeply experienced group of HR and people professionals who come from a range of different disciplines and backgrounds, but with one thing in common: a dedication to helping the wider HR community learn, grow, and celebrate together.
About Angela Cheng-Cimini
Angela is the Chief Human Resources Officer for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the preeminent source for nonprofit professionals committed to the advancement of the common good.
She previously served as the Senior Vice President, Talent & CHRO for Harvard Business Publishing, home of the Harvard Business Review. Angela brings 30 years of both generalist and specialist Human Resources experience, having worked across consumer product goods, professional services, and high-tech as well as nonprofits.
In addition to having served on the Alumni Board of Directors for Cornell University, she is a member of CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council, a body of CHROs dedicated to advancing the practice of HR; is a Strategic Board Advisor for several early-stage startups supporting the future of work; and serves as an advocate for the AAPI community for several nonprofits.
Frequently found on the HR speaking circuit, her thought leadership has been featured in the Harvard Business Review and Fast Company.
