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Ellie Bertani
Ellie Bertani
00:45

Ellie Bertani

GitLab Foundation

Washington, DC USA

"Collectively we’re much more powerful than any of us alone."

Career Roadmap

Ellie's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Business, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

President & CEO

I lead a philanthropic foundation with a mission to drive durable impact on financial stability and economic mobility.

02:38

Day In The Life Of A CEO Of A Philanthropic Foundation

My Day to Day

My role as a CEO is focused on integration and is kind of like conducting an orchestra. I coordinate our program officers, metrics team, operations, and partnerships to drive meaningful change, particularly in increasing wages. My day includes aligning our work with grantees, ensuring they meet outcomes, and exploring ways to scale our impact through strategic funding. Every day, I work to remove barriers and help people build better lives through education and workforce development.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Neuroscience

    Wellesley College

  • Graduate Degree

    Public Administration

    Harvard Kennedy School

  • Graduate Degree

    Business Administration and Management

    MIT Sloan School of Management

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    My parents, both physicians, instilled in me the values of hard work, integrity, and service from an early age.

  • 2.

    I worked as a waitress throughout high school and college, learning the importance of teamwork and customer service.

  • 3.

    I earned my bachelor’s degree in neuroscience but after graduating, I faced an “early life crisis” and decided to explore mission-driven work, which led me to roles in two nonprofits.

  • 4.

    A Craigslist ad for a dual nonprofit role opened the door to my first full-time position, setting the stage for my career in social impact.

  • 5.

    My work at a healthcare foundation focused on access for the uninsured, a role that connected me to bigger opportunities in philanthropy.

  • 6.

    I continued to build my career in social impact, working for organizations like the Gates Foundation, Walmart, and Wells Fargo.

  • 7.

    I currently lead the GitLab Foundation, where I focus on driving income growth and economic mobility through innovative partnerships.

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