About
Sienna Leis is Executive Director of Founders School at MassVentures, where she leads new venture development and deep tech investment across Massachusetts. She holds a degree from Harvard Kennedy School and has background in ed-tech startup implementations and crisis management. Leis founded Founders School in 2024 as a pre-accelerator program focused on preparing early-stage deep tech founders, particularly those in climate, health, infrastructure, and energy sectors, with emphasis on traditionally underfunded founders.
Experience
- MassVenturesExecutive Director, Founders School (Head of New Venture Development - MV)current2022 — presentBoston, MA
- Institute for Technology & Global HealthSenior Advisor - Institute for Technology and Global Health (now The Public Innovation Institute)current2021 — presentCambridge, MA
- The Kannico AgencyGlobal Strategic Advisor2020 — 2022Nassau
- PathCheck FoundationHead of Global Outreach & Implementation, Founding Leadership Team (MIT Media Lab Spinout)2020 — 2021Cambridge, MA
- Harvard UniversityDirector (Alumni Affairs & Development)2016 — 2020Cambridge, MA
- Talent Inc.Senior Coach & Branding Specialist2012 — 2016United States & Spain
- Carpe Diem ComunicaciónDirector of Strategic Initiatives2010 — 2016US, Latin America & Spain
- Carris HotelesHead of Digital Strategy (Contract)2013 — 2014Northern Spain & Portugal
- Solho GroupPrincipal2005 — 2010Miami Beach, Florida, United States
- LeapFrogNational Manager, Strategic Accounts2004Emeryville, California, United States
- The Princeton ReviewDirector, Strategic Partnerships2002 — 2004New York, New York
- CompassLearning, A Division of the Weekly Reader CorporationProfessional Development & Sales Consultant - Northeast Region2001 — 2002Boston, Massachusetts
- Kaplan Test PrepEastern Region Implementation Specialist (Achieva.com)2000 — 2001San Francisco Bay Area
Education
- Harvard Kennedy SchoolMaster of Public Administration - MPA, Crisis Management2018 — 2020
- Harvard University2000, Government1996 — 2000
- Miami Beach Citizen's Police Academy
- LandmarkGraduate, The Landmark Forum
Skills & more
CreativityMarketing60Business Strategy34Business Development29Marketing Strategy27Alumni Relations1Corporate Communications23Event Planning8Social Media17Business Planning14Public Relations17Online Marketing10
+12 more
NonprofitsAdvertisingNew Business DevelopmentCopywritingSalesProposal WritingStart-upsCreative DirectionFundraisingStrategyManagementLeadershipLanguages English · Spanish
- AI for Research and Insights — Google
- AI for Brainstorming and Planning — Google
- AI Fundamentals — Google
From Sienna's professional profile.
Colleagues at MassVentures
Charlie Hipwood
President and CEO at MassVentures
Matt Snow
Manager Investments at MassVentures
Myron Kassaraba
Vice President, Investments at MassVentures
Priya Yadav
Vice President, Investments at MassVentures
Stacy Swider
Vice President, Investments at MassVentures
Vinit Nijhawan
Managing Director at MassVentures
Whitney Leslie
Vice President Portfolio Analytics & IR at MassVentures
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Sienna Leis work?
- Sienna Leis is Venture Development Manager at MassVentures.
Same school
Also attended Harvard Kennedy School201
Jeremy PhilipsInvestor at Spark CapitalMike MoradiGeneral Partner at Cortado VenturesAndrew ForysiakOwner, AJF and Associates at Riphean InvestmentsDouglas Lemott Jr.Vice President, SAP National Security Services at Riphean InvestmentsGayatri SarkarFounder and CEO at Advaita CapitalSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital Advisors
+ 195 more
Also attended Harvard University1,457
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGRyan IsonoDeal Partner at Felicis Ventures
+ 1,451 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Harvard University273
Rachel HansenInvestor at Index VenturesDave MunichielloInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Logan HilleLife Sciences Analyst at CincyTechWalter KowtoniukInvestor at Third Rock VenturesJefte DrijversInvestor at Third Rock VenturesSamuel ArbesmanVenture Partner at Lux Capital
+ 267 more
Also worked at The Princeton Review15
Nehal NagallaAssociate at Level EquityArman Naraghi-PourLending Counsel at Golub GrowthMark ChernisOperating Partner at New Markets Venture PartnersFatima Cody StanfordVenture Advisor at Pier 70 VenturesPhilInvestor at Sigil FundDavid GrunfeldSenior Adviser at Hatcher+
+ 9 more
Also worked at Kaplan Test Prep10
Michael PerezDeputy General Counsel at Mucker CapitalYonatan SelaPartner at Square Peg CapitalAnnie MitsakPartner at Cure VenturesMichael BaschFounder, General Partner at Atento CapitalDan FlattSenior Marketing Director at Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)Kevin BrocklandManaging Partner at Indelible Ventures
+ 4 more