Across the private and public sector, firms and institutions are adopting bold transformation targets that place impact at the center of business and policy. How do we build the teams to deliver the innovative products, services, and business models needed for this new combination of profit and positive social outcomes? This session will share lessons learned from standing up innovation teams focused on “hard problems” – and how they apply to leaders looking to do the same.
Valla Vakili envisions and builds strategies, teams, and products that help businesses thrive within changing and challenging environments.
As Head of Studio at Citi Ventures, Valla works to foster economic vitality in an era of rapid societal change. His team leverages data, design, and partnerships in unique ways to create new and expanded growth opportunities for people, businesses, and cities. Previously, Valla helped create the D10X accelerator program as the first Entrepreneur-in-Residence, mentoring Citi teams in entrepreneurial principles to reimagine consumer financial services.
Valla began his career at Yahoo, creating revenue-driving products and teams that anticipated shifting online customer behavior. He is a former digital startup founder and CEO, an experience that gave him valuable insight into the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship.
A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Valla has conducted doctoral research at the University of Oxford and holds patents for inventions in interactive television content delivery and commerce. He also is a fan of fine whisky, great fiction, and good movies.
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