Organizational Psychologist and Strategist
Natalia Martinez-Kalinina is an organizational psychologist and strategist. She focuses on creating connected communities and vibrant ecosystems, most recently by leading the expansion of the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) from Boston to Miami, seeking to deepen and nuance the conversation about entrepreneurship, and building tangible bridges to innovation hubs and Latin America. As part of this effort, she oversees the core three-year old $4M business, in parallel with the master planning of an innovation district that requires setting a joint agenda between the public, academic, and private sectors in Miami. Prior to that, she served as the Chief Innovation & Technology Officer for a nonprofit focused on Cuba, a position from where she launched unique projects focused on technology and entrepreneurship on the island. Natalia is the founder of Awesome Foundation MIAMI, which has awarded $110K+ in grants to small, grassroots ideas across Miami. She is also the Founder of Aminta Ventures, an educational vehicle focused on educating and empowering professional and philanthropic women to become angel investors. For this and other work, Natalia has been appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, a body that oversees the administration of $32 million in federal, state, and local funding to deliver high-impact educational and volunteer programs in the state of Florida. Most recently, Natalia has spearheaded the launch of a nonpartisan, grassroots campaign called Immigrant Powered. The mission behind the project is three-fold: to highlight the positive economic impact of immigrants in our communities, to empower ‘immigrant powered’ businesses, and to connect small/medium businesses with opportunities for advocacy around responsible immigration policy. Natalia has been a contributor to outlets such as The Huffington Post, the World Economic Forum, Mic, and La Nacion. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Government from Harvard University and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University.