About
I’m a mission-driven leader with 15+ years of experience launching and scaling high-impact education initiatives at the intersection of innovation, strategy, and expanding access and opportunity. From founding education nonprofits to leading strategic growth at edtech startups and directing programs at Annenberg Learner, I bring a track record of building from 0→1, cultivating strong cross-sector partnerships, and delivering results for students, educators, and stakeholders. I thrive in entrepreneurial environments where I can lead bold initiatives, develop teams, and create systems that scale. With a background as both a classroom teacher and entrepreneur, I bridge the worlds of education, technology, and philanthropy. Let’s connect if you're building the future of learning and want a strategic, systems-thinking leader who can deliver lasting impact.
Experience
Edtech Startup Strategist
Edtech Startup Strategist · Remote
Present
I bring strategic thinking, operational rigor, and efficiency to complex challenges. I have spent the past decade on founding teams and advising CEOs. My favorite roles are those where I serve as a trusted partner to senior leadership - aligning priorities, building cross-functional trust, and ensuring execution at scale. natirodriguez.com
Venture Partner
Present
NextGen Venture Partners typically invests $1-2 million in seed-stage companies. Venture Partners are founders and innovators across the country whose expertise support NextGen's portfolio growth.
Program Director
Annenberg Learner · Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
Responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for Annenberg Learner to advance excellent teaching in American schools.
Fall 2024 Women in Leadership
Coro Southern California · Los Angeles County, California, United States
Competitively selected to be a part of the Women in Leadership (WIL) program, a professional development program that supports the leadership growth of women, establishing a pipeline for professional advancement, and creating a cross-sector network of women who support each other’s leadership development. WIL provides participants with time-tested and immediately applicable professional, leadership, and management skills, tools, and frameworks, as well as deep professional and leadership reflection with the unique leadership contributions and challenges of women in the workplace as the backdrop. WIL also introduces participants to a community of women eager to collaborate with, learn from, and support each other. Learn more about WIL at https://corola.org/wil/.
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Step Up Tutoring · Los Angeles, California, United States
Step Up Tutoring's mission is to improve engagement and academic performance for students in under-resourced communities by delivering free online tutoring. Step Up Tutoring aims to promote understanding, empathy, and trust among people from different backgrounds and circumstances.
Director of Development
Progressive Learning · Santa Monica
Progressive Learning works with educational institutions to improve basic skills by providing a blended and social emotional support approach to learning.
Co-Founder & Ceo
Teen Startup Academy · Santa Monica
Bold and cutting-edge business incubator for adolescents. The program delivers a paradigm shift in how youths view their environment – day-to-day problems shift into entrepreneurial opportunities. http://www.teenstartupacademy.com/
Student Experience Manager
MakerSquare - School of Software Engineering · Santa Monica
Supported students in their transformation to becoming software developers.
Summer Management Consultant
Designed rollout of innovation project management training plan for Fortune 500 client. Created training materials for integration of project management software impacting global project teams. Developed communication plan, timeline of delivery and identified stakeholders in change management effort.
Loan Operations Administrator
Levine Leichtman Capital Partners · Beverly Hills, CA
Accounting & Loan Operations Assistant
Education
Stanford University
Master’s Degree, Education
Texas McCombs School of Business
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
Stanford University
Bachelor of Science (BS), Science, Technology, & Society
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