White House LGBTQ Tech & Innovation Summit

Rachel Valdez is the Chief Dream Maverick/Head of Global Talent Management at PowerToFly and has executive responsibility for building the Fastest Growing Platform For Diversity and Inclusion for Women in Tech.

She brings 20 years of technology management experience, along with teaching experience in higher education. She holds a Master’s Degree in Communications in Digital Media from the University of Washington.

Rachel has held senior leadership positions at Microsoft, T-Mobile, and various start up companies and has taught multimedia and communication classes at The Art Institute of Seattle and Big Bend Community College. While at Microsoft, she was a visible champion for Diversity & Inclusion efforts and was the community director for the Women at Microsoft group and for the GLEAM (Gay, Lesbian, Employees at Microsoft) group for 7 years.
In addition to her responsibilities, from 2007-2014, she was VP, Board of Directors for the Pride Foundation whose mission inspires giving to expand opportunities and advance full equality for LGBTQ people across the Northwest. She also served as the Scholarship Chair for several years – assisting in the automation of the program and increasing scholarship donations.

In her own time, she enjoys mentoring students and entrepreneurs. She is in a girl band and is passionate about advocating for LGBTQ equality, Equal Pay and visibility for People of Color.