Bree Olofson

Experience

• 

  Ruth's Chris Steak House

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2006

  Event Manager
• 

  Microsoft

  Feb 2006 - Apr 2008

  Corporate Finance Staffing
• 

  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

  Apr 2008 - Jan 2017

  The Postsecondary Success team works for social justice: to increase the productivity of the nation’s hugher education system, improve educational outcomes for low income young adults, and eliminate the socio-economic gap. • Develop, implement, manage, and measure an engagement strategy to increase the effectiveness of the community college sector to promote low income and first generation student success• Manage $60M 5-year national initiative to create institution, network, and policy knowledge, tools, and playbook for higher ed institutions to undergo transformation• Engaged 4800 diverse participants in a 14 month online community project designed to promote discussion, knowledge sharing and partnerships among participants who would not otherwise have access to one another• Oversee communities of diverse partners working toward common goals and deliverables to first accelerate change and then to share cross-sector and scale to additional institutions• Manage external multidisciplinary teams to outcomes, including for profit and non-profit• Partner with internal and external key partners to ensure alignment of work, efficiencies of scale, and to avoid competing efforts• Provide strategic support, thought partnership, and guidance in achieving the desired impact of investments and managing metrics and evaluation components • Collaboration with internal partners to manage and align strategies and bodies of work, processes, portfolio progress, documentation, and knowledge necessary to ensure appropriate adaptation• Summarizing data, key activities, progress, and issues around priority strategy, program, and advocacy issues related to the Postsecondary program, including the development of reviews, summaries, and informative reports for the Co-Chairs and other stakeholders Show less

  • Program Officer

    Nov 2011 - Jan 2017

  • Program Coordinator, USP Education, Postsecondary Success and Special Initiatives

    Mar 2009 - Nov 2011

  • Grants Coordinator, US Programs

    Apr 2008 - Mar 2009
• 

  Bree Olofson

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2018

  Consultant

  Independent consulting with a primary focus on:• Network and community development• Knowledge management and documentation• Faculty career pathways research of existing models, workshop development, event planning, and facilitation

• 

  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

  Jan 2018 - now

  • Develop and execute scaling strategyo Determine and engage effective, equity-minded partners, building capabilities as neededo Build a Networked Improvement Community to provide support and learningo Relationship management for pace-based and national partnerships• Manage value chain development across multiple partner groups, including both supply and demando Co-development and execution of multiple coordinated leaning agendaso Collaborate within and across teams at a variety of levels and strategies to ensure alignment and visibility• Develop agenda and host convenings• Planning and execution of learning trips related to scaling for stakeholders at all levels of the foundation Show less • Working with a set of high-value Solutions, including Digital Learning, Advising Redesign, and Developmental Education, broker connections for development, planning, and implementation across multiple sectors of higher ed institutions• Support the development of Solution Networks, designed to lead the field with knowledge, resources, and services, including readiness assessments and technical assistance• Focus on Relationship Development and Management to ensure that critical Partnerships remain in place during a major strategy shift• Make Connections as appropriate to both internal and external resources to maintain ROI of investments and partnerships• Knowledge capture and curation, and positioning within a Knowledge Base Show less

  • Sr. Program Officer, Partner Networks

    Apr 2023 - now

  • Program Officer

    Jan 2020 - Apr 2023

  • Interim Program Officer

    Jan 2018 - Jan 2020