Natalia leads our outrich program. She was instrumental in designing monthly GC Newsletter a fun and informational space for all those interested in Georgia and the region. It is a one-stop shop for Georgia-related news in the US and beyond.

In her professional career, she designs and executes private sector development initiatives with a focus on technology startups and research commercialization. She has over 14 years of experience of shaping and developing business development strategy for different organizations by personally participating in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of private sector development opportunities. Proven track record in launching numerous new initiatives, enabling operations, facilitating successful partnerships that deliver results as well as managing multimillion-dollar programs. 

In her current position, Natalia is a Team Lead for XL Africa - a Pan-African business accelerator designed to support high growth technology companies. Just before, she led another program called Accelerate Caribbean program that built capacity of accelerators across the region and support job creation across 14 CARICOM countries. Previously, Natalia worked at CRDF Global, an independent, US Congress authorized organization leading its international entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology commercialization initiatives. She managed a number of high-profile programs to support entrepreneurs including the Global Innovation through Science & Technology (GIST), the largest U.S. State Department effort to advance entrepreneurship and industry-university linkages in more than 50 countries.

Natalia holds a M.A. in International Relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University. Natalia is Georgian by heritage; she was born and grew up in Russia and has been living in the USA for more than 20 years.