I'm a strategic design and innovation leader who thrives at the intersection of complex challenges and meaningful impact.

Over the past decade, my journey has taken me from co-founding design ventures in Mexico City to leading global innovation initiatives across 12+ countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Currently, I direct iDE's $2.3 million Paul Polak Innovation Fund, where we've supported 58 projects that transform how we approach poverty alleviation. These projects include pioneering affordable vision care models, menstrual health products, and services in rural communities, all aimed at increasing their livelihoods.

What drives me is the belief that the most intelligent solutions emerge when you truly understand people's lives: I've led remote design teams across four continents, built local capacity in challenging contexts, and developed frameworks that turn grassroots insights into scalable impact.

With dual Master's degrees from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, I combine rigorous strategic thinking with hands-on human-centred design, always asking: how might we create systems that work with communities, not just for them?

If you're tackling innovation challenges that require cross-cultural fluency, strategic vision, and a collaborative spirit, I'd love to connect.

melisalenero@gmail.com