Valentina Suarez

From reading Magic Treehouse books as a child to learning about different cultures in person, Valentina loves exploring. She was born in Colombia and raised in Florida, navigating two cultures and a new education system. Learning to access new opportunities shaped her view on accessibility and inspired her to create positive social and environmental change.

She followed this passion at the Iovine and Young Academy at the University of Southern California, which combines design, tech, and entrepreneurship. There, she focused on social entrepreneurship and human-centered design. Her North Star is helping founders build great solutions that genuinely address community challenges.

Why Education?

I see education as a space to explore and experiment. It helps us develop critical thinking skills, reflect on current world systems, and find community. As the foundation of how society works, education, given the right resources, can transform our world for better or worse. I believe it’s our job to ensure it’s for the best.