VC

Vanessa Colella

Global Head of Innovation and Digital Partnerships at Visa

San Francisco, California

Overview

Work Experience

  • Global Head of Innovation and Digital Partnerships

    2022 - Current

    Leads the development and commercialization of Visa products and solutions for big tech, fintech, and platform partnerships, as well as Visa's global network of Innovation Centers.

  • Board Member

    2020

    Supports La Scuola on its mission to “Inspire Brave Learners to Shape the Future” by leveraging the best of what is known globally about learning and child development across subjects.

  • Member of the Corporation Visiting Committee

    2015

    Operate as an advisor providing advice and insight to the leadership of the Media Lab. Help the Lab to maintain a close relationship between academic and professional practice.

  • Board Member

    2021 - 2022

    Advised the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) to help empower the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow.

  • Chief Innovation Officer, Head of Citi Ventures and Head of Citi Productivity

    2020 - 2022

    Expanded Chief Innovation Officer role to include Citi Productivity, which works to transform the employee experience by leveraging the power of process simplification, operating model redesign, and new technologies to help Citi increase efficiency and effectiveness.

  • Chief Innovation Officer & Head of Citi Ventures

    2017 - 2020

    Drive growth and innovation across Citi through deep integration with Citi's businesses, clients, and partners. Oversee a venture investing team and internal incubation teams (D10X and Studio), which use lean start-up methodology to generate ideas, launch products, and research trends that support economic growth. Foster a culture of innovation across Citi by creating space for employees to test ideas, challenge industry norms, and create new tools.

  • Managing Director, Global Head of Venture Investing and Strategic Growth Initiatives

    2013 - 2017

    Led the corporate venturing team in seeking, evaluating, investing in and working with start-ups to commercialize their technologies and drive growth for Citi. Led Citi's internal efforts to identify strategic growth opportunities and incubate potential solutions to new and emerging customer needs.

  • Managing Director, Head of NA Marketing

    2010 - 2013

    Led branding and advertising, online acquisitions, digital partnerships, branded content and engagement, and customer communications for the bank. Responsible for marketing activity across the retail bank, credit cards, small and medium business, commercial, mortgage and the payments businesses.

  • Entrepreneur in Residence

    2009 - 2010

    Responsible for sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities and advising CEOs in media, technology, and financial services companies.

  • SVP Insights

    2008 - 2009

    Responsible for developing and executing the company's consumer data and research strategy globally. While at Yahoo!, also led B2B marketing and strategy for the U.S., focusing on communicating the unique value of Yahoo!’s solutions to the advertising and publishing communities.

  • Partner

    2001 - 2008

    Led strategy development, innovation, and organizational change for media and technology companies.

  • Biology Teacher

    1991 - 1995

    Taught junior high and high school Biology, Chemistry, and IB Biology

  • Science Teacher

    1990 - 1991

    Taught junior high school Life Science and Earth Science as charter corps member of Teach for America

Relevant Websites