Dr. Larisa Warhol spent 8 years as a social entrepreneur in Kenya where she was actively involved in the creation of Simama’s Center of Worth and developing its programming. 

She is an academic and sustainability strategist with over 20 years of experience advancing environmental, education, and community-driven development worldwide. She has advised international NGOs, multilateral agencies, and other private enterprises on integrating sustainability, gender equity, and impact measurement into their operations. Her work has supported initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia, with a focus on locally relevant and globally scalable solutions. Most recently, Larisa works for USAID, managing a $185M portfolio of global natural climate solution projects. 

Larisa holds a PhD in Education Policy from Arizona State University and a Master’s of International Policy and Practice from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She loves to travel and has become an avid basket weaver.