Jenn Baez is an operational leader and systems strategist focused on reimagining how institutions collaborate to create greater value for the communities they serve. As Director of Community Impact Operations at Knight Foundation, she oversees operations across the Community Impact function and manages Knight’s Miami portfolio. In this role, she helps shape how Knight invests in local institutions, supports civic life and advances a more innovative and inclusive future for Miami.

Before joining Knight, Jenn served as Miami-Dade County’s Transformation Officer, leading efforts to modernize government operations while driving innovation and economic development. She helped convene regional partners to secure the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Risk & Resilience Tech Hub designation and award for Miami, positioning the region as a national leader in resilience technology and future-focused industries.

Jenn’s background spans venture capital at SoftBank’s Opportunity Fund—supporting over 80 companies led by underrepresented founders—and global consulting at DHL, where she led projects in logistics, sustainability and new ventures. She holds a B.S. in Commerce and Information Technology from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in International Business from the University of Virginia, ESADE Business School and Lingnan University in Guangzhou, China