Natalia Olson-Urtecho was Barack Obama’s innovation advisor between 2010 and 2017. During this stage, important advances were made in the fields of open data (Open Gov), the collaborative economy and crowdfunding, “a catalyst for new innovative companies” .
She is an advisor to a variety of institutions such as the World Bank or the European American Enterprise Council, which promotes cooperation between American and European companies.
Entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience working with international, regional and local entities in Latin America, Central Europe and Asia, her professional experience covers topics such as blockchain, smart cities, finance, government contracting, international collaboration, technology commercialization, planning environment, sustainable construction, zoning, land use, mobility, public participation and infrastructure development.
She is an international expert in the economics of small and medium-sized companies; in its digitization and that of public services in general, Natalia Olson-Urtecho was White House Innovation Advisor (for companies) during the Barack Obama period and is now dedicated to advising public entities around the world on the best way to modernize cities and governments of all ranks with digitization as a basic tool.
In addition, Natalia Olson-Urtecho is the Global Ambassador for Spain and Portugal for the Silicon Valley Forum, where she helps promote both SVF’s mission and my own personal beliefs about the transformative power of innovation, connection, and entrepreneurship. She is also the COO of RadicalxChange, a foundation that promotes a decentralized democracy.
Previously, she was the co-founder and director of innovation and strategy at The Disruptive Factory (2017-22), a consultancy that helps companies meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
In her lectures, she defends that 3G technology gave rise to a new economy. Open data, promoted by the Obama Administration, had a reflection of the collaborative economy in the private, productive economy. According to Olson-Urtecho, the new 5G technology will also mean great changes, with new sectors that will make the economy more productive.
Likewise, she is also a Member of the ESADE Technological Humanism Forum, a space for reflection and debate on the impact of technology on the lives and rights of people, from business, political and social perspectives.
Natalia Olson-Urtecho has been recognized as a “Latino Powerhouse” in Maryland, “One of the Most Influential Latinas” by the Delaware Valley (NJ, PA, DE), a Minority Business Leader Award Winner by the Business Journal, and a Women of Distinction Award for his work on growing the green economy and sustainable infrastructure.