Joined the Partnerships & Philanthropy team at AltSchool in September 2014. In January 2015, I joined the Growth team to work cross-functionally with the appropriate internal teams (e.g. Admissions, Real Estate, Marketing, etc.) to form and execute strategies for launching schools.
As Advisor for Forge, I organized Atlanta's first Healthcare Hackathon and established strategic partnerships in collaboration with leadership that secured the venue and raised ~$40,000 from various sponsors.
Prior to becoming a part of the Forge team, I was an Investment Banker in the Food, Consumer & Retail groups at BMO Capital Markets and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. In 2010, I completed a double major in Business Administration (emphasis in Finance) and Music (cello).
While I was in college, I curated a sizeable online following by promoting over 50 events for non-profits, professional athletes, and celebrities including Floyd Mayweather, Kim Kardashian, and Jay-Z. I've been playing the cello for over 22 years with my initial training in the Suzuki Method from Bonnie Bull. I later studied with Wolfgang Laufer (Fine Arts Quartet), Daniel Laufer (Atlanta Symphony), and had additional training in artistic interpretation from Mariana Laufer (Bucharest Opera and Ballet). I have also been a music teacher, received label placements with Def Jam, and performed in national and international venues including Carnegie Hall.
While I am fascinated by technology in general, I am particularly interested in solving problems further down Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. For example: Food (agtech, drones...), Healthcare (quantified self, telemedicine...), Employment (MOOCs / edtech, fintech, VR...), Shelter (shared services...), Security (IoT, mobile...), Resources (marketplaces, big data, on-demand services...), etc.
The best way to reach me is on Twitter: @rubenharris
Myers-Briggs: ENTJ