Natalia Olson-Urtecho is an expert in innovation, entrepreneurship, and smart cities, appointed by Barack Obama as Regional Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2012 to 2017, where she managed 35 billion dollars in government contracts and 8 billion in loans for SMEs in the Mid-Atlantic region, promoting digitalization and sustainability. With a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Political Science from Northeastern University, she has advised the White House on competitiveness and innovation through the U.S. Innovation Advisory Board, and served on the Philadelphia Planning Commission as Vice President of the Zoning Code Commission. Co-founder of The Disruptive Factory, she is currently Director of Government Partnerships at Plug and Play Tech Center, senior advisor at HumanITcare and RepScan, and Director of Government, Innovation and Growth at Startup Sherpas, focusing on blockchain, green energy, and entrepreneur empowerment. Winner of awards such as the Business Journal 2010 Minority Business Leader Award and Women of Distinction Award 2009 for her work in the green economy, she has lived in seven countries and speaks several languages. Passionate about digital modernization and sustainable development, she is excited to discuss strategies for cultural and urban innovation in this forum.
