Qualifications

Karla Ballard joined SDR Ventures in 2025 as a Senior Advisor, where she leads strategic initiatives across AI, Fintech, and Blockchain. She works closely with entrepreneurs worldwide, helping them scale their businesses and achieve successful exits. A Fintech entrepreneur and transformational advisor in her own right, Karla brings a unique blend of operational insight and strategic foresight. She supports growth-stage companies through complex liquidity events and the often unpredictable path of entrepreneurship. Karla is also the founder of Live YING Inc., a cutting-edge social gig economy platform that integrates innovative insurance products—paving the way for the Future of Work. Her deep expertise in valuing intangible digital assets—such as intellectual property, social ecosystems, and platform technologies—positions her as a trusted advisor to fast-growing companies across these unique sectors.

Experience

Karla Ballard brings a powerful blend of global experience, policy influence, and entrepreneurial insight to every endeavor she leads. She has spearheaded international campaigns at Ogilvy & Mather and Participant Media, and currently serves on the Advisory Boards of Blue Star Families, 42 Geeks—a global tech community—and New Chic Capital Investments, a Hong Kong-based family office. Karla’s commitment to economic empowerment and innovation has taken her from corporate boardrooms to Capitol Hill. She has testified before Congress, served as an appointee to both the FCC and the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Literacy Committee, and continues to influence public policy and capital innovation through her expansive network and visionary leadership. As host of iHeart Media’s podcast series, "Currency for Humankind," Karla leads bold, forward-thinking conversations with Fintech innovators and cultural capital leaders who are reshaping the future of wealth and impact. Karla regularly shares her insights as a speaker at Georgetown University and has been a featured voice for over a decade at Harvard’s Kenneth Galbraith Program at the Kennedy School of Government.

Education

Karla has a bachelor's degree from University of Virginia.

Interests

Karla is deeply interested in capital innovation, financial inclusion, and the intersection of technology, policy, and social impact. Her work reflects a passion for empowering underserved communities, supporting entrepreneurs, and redefining the future of finance—especially through tools like Fintech, Blockchain, and the gig economy.