Our Team

Scott Shadian has spent his career working inside complex systems — policy, conflict, humanitarian response — developing expertise in how systems succeed and how they fail. Over two decades he has worked across the White House, State Department, USAID, and 30+ countries as Founder of Sayara International, designing rigorous evaluations for governments, multilateral institutions, and philanthropies. Much of that work has been in the field, in societies at war or coming apart, with a focus on peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Benjamin Valentino is the Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Professor of Government at Dartmouth College. With over 25 years of experience studying violent conflict and public opinion around the world, his research draws on cutting-edge social scientific methods and technologies to forecast violence and assess ways to help prevent it.

Former Research Manager at Sayara International. Methodologist and field researcher whose early concerns over institutional stagnation in conflict zones shifted her focus to team building and organizational strategy. She brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of the public, private, and academic spheres.

Nathanael is a full-stack developer and systems architect who builds AI-powered platforms for complex real-world challenges in governance, energy, and sustainability. Working across React, Node.js, and machine learning pipelines, he has designed and shipped enterprise-scale data systems for clients ranging from transit authorities to federal energy regulators.

Anna is an impact data analyst and venture philanthropy practitioner with over eight years of experience bridging data science and social investment. Currently supporting The Rockefeller Foundation's Strategic Learning & Impact team, she has designed impact measurement frameworks and theories of change for hundreds of nonprofits across Europe and Latin America. At Ship2B, she co-launched a Venture Philanthropy unit, trained over 1,000 organizations in impact data measurement, and secured €200,000 in funding through rigorous program evaluation. She holds an MSc in Applied Analytics from Columbia University and has lectured on impact measurement and nonprofit consulting at ESADE Business School.

With over 35 years of global experience, Adam has dedicated his career to driving development and social change at the intersection of government, civil society, and media. His work has supported hundreds of organizations to promote access to information, advance human dignity, and empower agency.

Matt is a strategic operator and designer with a track record of building organizations in complex, emerging domains. At GoSun, a clean energy startup he helped grow to a $60M valuation, he led marketing strategy, international partnerships, and crowdfunding campaigns generating over $3.2M in revenue. As Co-Founder of Gaia Gives, he built a Web3 philanthropic platform from concept to launch, raising $180,000 in funding. At the Center for MINDS, he built the organization's infrastructure from the ground up, growing its reach to 1M+ impressions and securing speaking engagements at Psychedelic Science and SXSW. He brings the same cross-functional approach to EFL, leading strategy, product, and design across the organization.

Samantha is a seasoned technology professional with 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, strategy, and operations. Her expertise spans both public and private sectors, encompassing the realms of telecommunications, connectivity, data management, and the broader business and corporate landscape.