Yee-Ann Cho Email & Phone Number

Denver

Kirkland, Washington, United States

Led the SP&L Team at a venture philanthropy (founded by Melinda French Gates) focusing on accelerating social progress in the United States. Fostered collaboration across the organization, sharpened capital deployment, and strengthened the philanthropy’s performance and impact. Strategic & Operational Leadership: Drove annual and long-term planning, budget management, and finance for the Program Team. Oversaw, managed, and refined teamwide operations and systems development. Team… Show more Led the SP&L Team at a venture philanthropy (founded by Melinda French Gates) focusing on accelerating social progress in the United States. Fostered collaboration across the organization, sharpened capital deployment, and strengthened the philanthropy’s performance and impact. Strategic & Operational Leadership: Drove annual and long-term planning, budget management, and finance for the Program Team. Oversaw, managed, and refined teamwide operations and systems development. Team Building: Collaborated regularly with other Pivotal teams on finance, budget, data, and communications. Led cross-team collaboration to ensure systems and processes to support team members, strengthen strategies, and maximize Pivotal’s impact. Performance Management: Led analytics, measurement and evaluation, and learning for the Program Team. Show less

Denver, Colorado

Oversaw all operational units supporting the College’s academic departments and degree programs, in newly created leadership role on the Dean’s senior leadership team. Led a total team of ˜50 people, including 10 direct reports. Organizational Leadership & Team Building: Provided overarching strategic direction and fostered a positive, collaborative College-wide culture. Led the successful integration of previously siloed operational units into a high-performing collaborative team that… Show more Oversaw all operational units supporting the College’s academic departments and degree programs, in newly created leadership role on the Dean’s senior leadership team. Led a total team of ˜50 people, including 10 direct reports. Organizational Leadership & Team Building: Provided overarching strategic direction and fostered a positive, collaborative College-wide culture. Led the successful integration of previously siloed operational units into a high-performing collaborative team that improved the student experience, collaboration with faculty, and organizational culture. Staff engagement and satisfaction consistently increased during my 3-year tenure. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborated with University partners to advance the University’s IMPACT 2025 strategic plan. Show less

Denver, Colorado

Oversaw initiatives and a team of 25 (including eight direct reports) for a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on accelerating improvement in K-12 schools statewide. Led strategic programmatic, budget, staffing, and fundraising decisions. Organizational Leadership & Team Building: Led the successful integration of five siloed teams into a cohesive program team. Helped to build the organization’s staff from 12 to ˜45 in five years. Strategic Partnerships & Collaboration: Led… Show more Oversaw initiatives and a team of 25 (including eight direct reports) for a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on accelerating improvement in K-12 schools statewide. Led strategic programmatic, budget, staffing, and fundraising decisions. Organizational Leadership & Team Building: Led the successful integration of five siloed teams into a cohesive program team. Helped to build the organization’s staff from 12 to ˜45 in five years. Strategic Partnerships & Collaboration: Led partnerships with the majority of Colorado’s 179 school districts, identifying reform successes for statewide replication. Built strong relationships with district leaders across Colorado to enable and support systems transformation. Strategy Development: Oversaw strategic planning, positioning CEI for its next stage of development and growth. Fundraising: Led team grant writing that resulted in ~$20M in grant funding for our work during my tenure at CEI. Show less

Denver, Colorado

Oversaw CEI’s overall programmatic and financial success during leadership transition. Executive Leadership: Engaged and collaborated with the Board of Directors, Colorado Commissioner of Education and other state leaders, and funders. Represented CEI at statewide and national conferences, forums, and public events. Financial Leadership: Oversaw annual operating budget of $12.3M with a staff of 47.

Denver, Colorado

Served in the Governor’s Executive Cabinet and managed daily operations of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, supervising a team of 16 (seven direct reports). Operational Leadership: Led the transition process to the new gubernatorial administration. Executive Leadership: Oversaw Early Childhood, K-12 Education, Community Service, Indian Affairs, and Health & Wellness teams. Hired first executive director for the Governor-appointed Early Childhood Leadership Commission.

Denver, Colorado

Served as founding leader of a new charter school management organization (CMO), overseeing pre-opening and the first school’s opening. Startup Organizational Leadership: Identified and hired top leadership team (COO, VP of Instruction, and Principal). Established clear vision and strategic priorities for the organization. Recruited and built Board and Advisory Board. Strategic Partnerships & Fundraising: Built effective relationships with Denver Public Schools Superintendent, Board… Show more Served as founding leader of a new charter school management organization (CMO), overseeing pre-opening and the first school’s opening. Startup Organizational Leadership: Identified and hired top leadership team (COO, VP of Instruction, and Principal). Established clear vision and strategic priorities for the organization. Recruited and built Board and Advisory Board. Strategic Partnerships & Fundraising: Built effective relationships with Denver Public Schools Superintendent, Board of Education, and other strategic partners. Raised $1.3M in startup investment from local foundations. Show less

Seattle, Washington

Managed combined investment portfolios totaling $340M+, identifying prospective grantees, conducting diligence, making investment recommendations, and assessing grantee performance. Replications and National Solutions: Managed a $200M+ national investment portfolio, including two signature programs focused on improving outcomes for low-income, minority students and struggling youth. Led strategy for scaling high-quality new school and school improvement models. Planned and led annual… Show more Managed combined investment portfolios totaling $340M+, identifying prospective grantees, conducting diligence, making investment recommendations, and assessing grantee performance. Replications and National Solutions: Managed a $200M+ national investment portfolio, including two signature programs focused on improving outcomes for low-income, minority students and struggling youth. Led strategy for scaling high-quality new school and school improvement models. Planned and led annual grantee convenings. West Coast Investments: Managed a $140M+ portfolio, including seven district grantees in four states and new schools nationwide. Worked closely with district superintendents, boards of education, community groups, and funding partners to develop sustainable high school reform plans. Led California team in developing regional investment strategy. Grantee Relationships: Voted by peers as the program officer who maintained the most effective grantee relationships. Show less

Redwood Shores, California, And Arlington, Virginia

Managing Director, Consulting Services, Education Entrepreneurs Fund• Delivered business planning and program assessment services to foundations and education services providers in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, generating >$3M in revenue• Developed and implemented technical assistance symposia for client organizations• Oversaw comprehensive summative reviews of organizations seeking affiliation with NAS• Managed annual market research study of the education reform… Show more Managing Director, Consulting Services, Education Entrepreneurs Fund• Delivered business planning and program assessment services to foundations and education services providers in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, generating >$3M in revenue• Developed and implemented technical assistance symposia for client organizations• Oversaw comprehensive summative reviews of organizations seeking affiliation with NAS• Managed annual market research study of the education reform industry and economic analysis of NAS-affiliated comprehensive school reform service providersDirector, Design Team Services• Led development of new quality review rubric, allowing first-time ever measurement of the quality of education service providers• Represented NAS at national conferences, forums, and public events on comprehensive school reform. Served as panel discussion developer, facilitator, and workshop presenter Show less

• Assisted in implementation of the Hartford Education Initiative, a district-wide grantmaking initiative to improve STEM education in Hartford Public Schools• Conducted benchmarking analysis of corporate giving in early childhood education initiatives, resulting in the company’s decision to broaden its grantmaking portfolio to include preschool

Estes Park, Colorado

• Founding staff member of a tuition-free, residential, alternative high school for at-risk youth that was founded and is fully funded by the American Honda Motor Company• Created school’s admissions policies and procedures and interviewed prospective students• Marketed Eagle Rock to school districts across Colorado and community-based organizations around the country, resulting in a 20% increase in applications over a three-year period

Washington Dc

• Designed programs and drafted proposals to the former US Information Agency (now part of the US Agency for International Development) to bring foreign professionals to the US for educational exchange programs with their American peers• Supported planning and implementation of 14 international exchange programs

Washington, Dc

• Planned educational trips to Asia for members of Congress and their delegates• Designed and implemented educational exchange programs to the US for Asian professionals• Conducted research on US foreign policy affecting East and Southeast Asia

Mba, Strategy And Nonprofit Management

Master Of Education (Med), Policy And Evaluation

Ba, International Relations