Ben Polansky Email & Phone Number

Ventura, CA, US

Oakland, California (now Globally remote)

• Scaled organization internationally and created foundational systems across every department
• Oversaw 20%-60% YOY growth of partnerships, student participation and revenue
• Grew with a focus on equity and access from 200 to 10,000+ students since inception, 83% of whom identify as BIPOC
• Collaborated with CEO and development team to raise $20M+ in scholarships from corporate, individual and institutional funders, including $8M in cash and in-kind donations from travel industry leading brands like.
• Increased earned revenue 10x
• Expanded from 8 to 100+ school and youth organization partners, managing teams that scaled teacher recruitment and trained 700+ teachers

San Francisco Bay Area

• Tripled student enrollment by adding after-school and alumni programs to summer model
• Directed the design, delivery, and evaluation of leadership training programs across 12 Bay Area public high schools, impacting over 400 students—92% of whom identified as BIPOC
• Authored hundreds of hours of experiential curriculum, with a focus on strengthening participants' critical thinking, communication, and community leadership skills
• Built 200+ partnerships and secured 125+ internships in nonprofits, government, and businesses
• Partnered with foundations and individual donors to secure $150K in grants for student stipends
• Recruited and trained 250+ volunteers to foster a community-driven support network for students

San Francisco Bay Area

• Led all operations of an annual travel scholarship fund that provided students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds with the opportunity to travel abroad each summer
• Directed annual fundraising campaigns that raised over $250,000
• Managed partnership with non-profit youth travel organizations to place students on trips abroad
• Cultivated donor relations with over 50 donors each year
• Conducted outreach and application process for potential scholarship recipients
• Edited and published youth travel articles on MatadorNetwork.com

San Francisco Bay Area

• Partnered with co-founder to secure $1M seed capital and developed original business plan and go-to-market strategy
• Crafted unique online travel community’s brand—logo, apparel, event presence, and advertising materials — emphasizing adventure, cultural curiosity, and storytelling
• Managed a team of developers to build website and online community, creating a space of robust engagement and high-quality content for traveler-lovers, content producers, and influencers
• Co-launched a company that has become a media brand reaching over 100 million people per month, a world-class production company, and a creative agency touching the world’s biggest brands

San Francisco Bay Area

• Mentored students by utilizing listening skills, providing direct feedback, creating opportunities for introspection, and holding students accountable to what they are capable of achieving
• Organized and coordinated small and large-group interactions: student meetings at school, workshops, and events
• Collaborated with Program Director and Summer Program Coordinator to ensure that each student was appropriately placed in a summer program
• Entered and tracked data accurately on a daily basis in the “Efforts to Outcomes” student database to assess student progress, staff evaluations, and organizational learning

Berkeley

• Responsible for guest safety, equipment maintenance, meals, logistics, cultural and historical knowledge of the area, transportation, activity guidance, and overall guest satisfaction
• Interacted, entertained, and connected with families, couples, and individuals from ages 3 to 81
• Managed environments ranging from National Park campsites to five-star restaurants, and premiere inns. Led activities such as road biking, hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking
• Planned and coordinated an entire trip itinerary. This included mapping out all trip routes, negotiating sub-contractor contracts, planning trip meal menus, coordinating dining and accommodations, and documenting every.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Mass Communication/Media Studies

Studies focused on how people construct, use, and interpret messages across multiple channels and types of media to inform, persuade.

Study Abroad, Madrid Spain

Major: Journalism, Minor: Spanish

Transferred to UC Santa Barbara