Sandra Boccia - Strategist, speaker, and storyteller

Strategist, speaker, and storyteller linking innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I connect people, capital, and knowledge to turn ideas into action and scale global impact.

About

I'm a strategist, speaker, curator, researcher, and storyteller working at the intersection of technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I connect people, capital, and knowledge to turn ideas into action and scale global impact.

After two decades leading Latin America's most influential business publications within its largest media group, I now draw on a global network of CEOs, founders, investors, and environmental leaders to bridge worlds and accelerate change.

I believe in the power of storytelling, dialogue, and collective intelligence to help people and organizations create, lead, and collaborate differently. Having visited over 40 countries across six continents, I bring a truly international perspective to every project, infusing diverse cultural, professional, and human experiences into everything I do.

The Central

💌 The Central is my side project — a space for reflections and essays on innovation, culture, and the shifting landscapes of technology and humanity.

Read it here

What I'm Doing Now

Right now, I'm a Fellow at Harvard's Advanced Leadership Initiative, researching how artificial intelligence can be designed and used to strengthen — rather than undermine — human creativity and social trust.

I'm engaged in courses and collaborations across Harvard and MIT, including:

  • • Philosophy of Technology: From Marx and Heidegger to AI, with Mathias Risse at Harvard Kennedy School
  • • Artificial Intelligence and Art, with Antonio Somaini at Harvard
  • • What's a Better Future?, with Rosalind Picard at MIT Media Lab
  • • MIT Venture Studio, exploring venture building and innovation ecosystems
  • • Safeguarding the Future, with Kevin Esvelt at MIT
  • • Deep dives at Harvard Business School on AI and pressing social problems

Projects & Initiatives

Current project:

Craft as Code

An academic and social impact initiative exploring how AI can empower creative entrepreneurs to gain economic independence and preserve cultural heritage.

Selected previous initiatives:

Um Só Planeta

Brazil's largest editorial movement on climate action, awarded Best Latin American Project by the International News Media Association (INMA) and winner of the Covering Climate Now Journalism Award.

100 Startups to Watch

An annual benchmark connecting Brazil's most promising startups with investors, mentors, and the media.

Mind the Gap Leadership Dinner

An invitation-only event bringing together CEOs, investors, and thought leaders to design actionable strategies for the future of business and society.

Homens da Nossa Época

A podcast series engaging male leaders in conversations about equity, inclusion, and cultural transformation.

FICE

A large-scale event connecting Brazil's innovation and entrepreneurship communities.

Speaking & Moderation

I create spaces where diverse voices connect, challenge each other, and imagine new futures together.

TEDx São Paulo
Web Summit Rio
Amcham CEO Forum
IBGC
Flip — Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty
Fórum Jurídico de Lisboa
Beyond Macau
Brazil-Japan Young Leaders Forum
Brazil Climate Summit in New York

Awards & Recognition

Women in Tech Global Award — recognized for leadership in technology and innovation

LinkedIn Top Voice — for thought leadership on innovation, leadership, and sustainability

Covering Climate Now Journalism Award — for Um Só Planeta

Best Latin American Project — International News Media Association (INMA) for Um Só Planeta

Brazilian Environmental Leadership Award (BELA) — U.S. Consulate

Career Tribute — World Creativity Festival

European Tourism Commission Awards (twice) — best international business and travel reporting

Personal & Beyond

When I'm not working, studying, or traveling, you'll likely find me in a kayak — exploring the wild beaches of northeastern Brazil or gliding along the Charles River in Cambridge.

Nature keeps me grounded and reminds me to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with what matters most. I also love cooking Italian dishes, watching documentaries, reading biographies, visiting art galleries, and writing.

Curiosity is my lifelong practice — shaping not just my work, but my life.

Work With Me

I collaborate with companies, universities, governments, and cultural organizations to design and lead:

Strategic guidance for online and print editorial projects for brands and individuals

Keynote talks and executive briefings

Strategic moderation for forums and leadership retreats

Advisory on innovation, strategic storytelling, and future-ready leadership

Mentorship on corporate life transitions, storytelling, new business creation, and media positioning

Bridges connecting talent from the Harvard-MIT ecosystem with Brazil and beyond