Description
With a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, Joana is driven by the belief that social issues are economic imperatives, not just moral ones. She is a recent graduate from the Harvard Kennedy School with her Masters in Public Administration, where she dedicated her studies on local government, economic development, and leadership skills.
In addition, she served as a fellow on former Boston Mayor Kim Janey’s Transition Committee, developing policy recommendations with the Public Health Subcommittee Co-Chairs. She also consulted with Grads of Life who partnered with Bain & Company to produce a research report for Fortune 500 companies on the best and equitable recruiting and retention practices. Prior to graduate school, Joana was the Interim Executive Director at the Boston Women’s Workforce Council, a public-private partnership between the City of Boston and the business community dedicated to closing gender and racial wage gaps.
After 6 years in Boston, Joana returned to her native Austin to address the needs of small businesses impacted by COVID-19, particularly communities of color. Joana received her B.A. in International Relations at St. Edward’s University and is currently serving as Board Director and Secretary for the City of Austin’s Rosewood Community Development Corporation.
