Natasha Barrientos

With over 12 years of experience in the fintech sector and a strong emphasis on stakeholder capitalism, Natasha Barrientos began her career in a local start-up after graduating from Babson College - and has since held leadership positions within multinational financial firms across Boston, Singapore, and New York City.  As an advocate for the power of emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrencies to drive sustainability efforts and advance global development, she has centered her career at the nexus of technology, policy, and impact.

Natasha was a co-founding member of Manulife Financial’s global innovation lab where she pioneered the firm’s UX Research practice. In 2018, her contributions were acknowledged when she was named an emerging Latinx leader by El Mundo’s Top 30 Under 30. Subsequently, she went on to lead the Research & Development function for Manulife’s US subsidiary, John Hancock, where her work focused on social innovation, AI, and financial wellness for previously underserved customer segments.

An alumna of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Natasha earned her Master’s in International Affairs, specializing in Economic & Political Development policy. Most recently, she led the digital asset product line at S&P Dow Jones. Currently, Natasha serves on the advisory board of Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol (SBP), a climate-positive cryptocurrency startup. She is slated to debut as an instructor for Columbia University’s pre-college program this summer, teaching a course on crypto and blockchain.