Dr. Angela Jackson

Senior Advisor @ The Project on Workforce at Harvard

About

I help organizations unlock the full potential of their workforce by designing strategies that drive both employee wellbeing and business success. With over a decade of experience in governance, workforce transformation, and leadership development, I’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and global foundations to create thriving workplaces. I serve on the boards of Needham Bank (NBBK), Arena Analytics, and Beyond 12. As a researcher at Harvard and author of The Win-Win Workplace (Berrett-Koehler, March 11, 2025), I explore how human-centered business practices fuel innovation, retention, and long-term performance. I lead Future Forward Strategies and the Future Forward Institute, advising leaders on building inclusive, high-performing teams. As the Founder of the Win-Win Workplace Summit, I convene industry leaders to translate research into action, driving innovative solutions for the future of work. Previously, I led an economic mobility investment portfolio at New Profit and launched the Future of Work Grand Challenge, which focused on reskilling and placing 25,000 workers into living-wage jobs. My writing and research have been featured in Harvard Business Review, Stanford Social Innovation Review, CNN, and The Economist. Let’s connect if you're building a workplace where employees and businesses win.

Country

United States

City

Boston

Industry

Higher Education

Skill

Corporate Governance, Business Development, Nonprofit Organizations, Social Entrepreneurship, Sensitive Information, Presentations, External Communications, Creative Problem Solving, Active Listening, Trust Building, Strategic Partnerships, Entrepreneurship, Fundraising, Leadership, Start-ups, Strategic Planning, Management, Integrated Marketing, Digital Marketing, Sponsorship

Experience

Senior Advisor

The Project on Workforce at Harvard

2025-1 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

Research Director

Future Forward Institute

2023-8 - Present · 3 yrs 2 mos

Lecturer

Harvard University

2022-6 - Present · 4 yrs 4 mos

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Lecturer for a graduate class on Entrepreneurship in the Education Marketplace focusing on the ideation and MVP start up phases as part the faculty in the Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology (LDIT) Department.

Board Member (NASDAQ: NBBK)

Needham Bank

2023-2 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

Member of the Compensation Committee (2023 - Present), Member of the Audit Committee (2023 - Present), Member of the Community Reinvestment Act & Fair Lending Committee (2023 - Present). Known as the “Builder’s Bank," Needham Bank has been helping build futures since 1892. Member FDIC. Member DIF.

Member

Pipeline Angels

2021-3 - Present · 5 yrs 7 mos

Pipeline Angels is changing the face of angel investing and venture capital, as well as creating funding for trans women, cis women, nonbinary, two-spirit, agender, and gender-nonconforming founders. Our members serve as the friends and family round for entrepreneurs who may not already have support at that critical stage.

Founding Member

Chief

2020-10 - Present · 6 yrs

Chief is a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey, cross-pollinate ideas across industries, and effect change from the top-down.

Managing Partner

New Profit

2021-1 - 2022-2 · 1 yr 2 mos

Partner

New Profit

2019-5 - 2021-1 · 1 yr 9 mos

Greater Boston Area

Entrepreneur In Residence

New Profit

2018-7 - 2019-4 · 10 mos

Greater Boston Area

Founder

Global Language Project

2008-7 - 2016-6 · 8 yrs

Provides overall management, fundraising and program development leadership for Global Language Project in accordance with its mission.

New Channels Marketing-Retail and Events Sponsorship

Nokia

2006-4 - 2008-1 · 1 yr 10 mos

Nokia creates the critical networks and technologies to bring together the world’s intelligence, across businesses, cities, supply chains and societies. With its commitment to innovation and technology leadership, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, Nokia delivers networks at the limits of science across mobile, infrastructure, cloud, and enabling technologies. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, Nokia helps build the capabilities we need for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world.

Director of New Business Development

Viacom

2003 - 2006 · 3 yrs

MTV is the world's premier youth entertainment brand, the cultural home of the millennial generation and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. It reflects pop culture with award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, the internet and other platforms.