Krisztina Holly is a remarkable leader who is disrupting the world of technology and innovation. Her unwavering commitment to championing entrepreneurs, innovators, and scientists to drive the development of new ideas and technologies has made her one of the most influential women in the technology industry. She not only provides guidance and support to young innovators to help them bring their ideas to life, but she has also founded several businesses and organizations that are themselves innovating how we think about technology and its potential applications. Krisztina’s story is one of constant innovation, inspiring others through her own relentless pursuit of excellence.
From a young age, Krisztina had an interest in technology, engineering, and design. She grew up in Hungary during the Cold War in a home where creativity and innovation were highly valued. While attending the University of Budapest, Krisztina worked on landing the first satellite communication link between Cuba and Eastern Europe. This project was a massive success, and was evidence of her relentless pursuit of innovation even in the face of challenges. Later, Krisztina went on to receive her Masters in Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and she worked for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center for three years as a Systems Engineer. Thanks to her deep expertise in technology and engineering, Krisztina was the perfect candidate to spearhead innovation projects in the technology industry.
Following her success at NASA, Krisztina took a leading role at the U.S. National Science Foundation as a Program Director in the Computer Science Directorate. In this position, Krisztina helped identify potential investments in R&D, collaborated with tech companies and universities to develop new technologies, and created a community of scientists and engineers who were creating cutting-edge technology. This was Krisztina’s first foray into the world of organizational leadership and innovation, and for the next 17 years she continued to blaze a trail for the future of technology and innovation.
Since 2011, Krisztina has served as the Founding Director and Dean of the USC Iovine and Young Academy, where she continues to mentor emerging entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries. Krisztina’s efforts have positioned the academy as a hub of interdisciplinary learning and discovery, with the goal of equipping students to use technology and innovation to build an impactful future. In addition, under Krisztina’s leadership, the Academy launched innovators such as Elektric, which is a robotics company focused on developing interactive storytelling experiences for kids, as well as Vivino, an app-based wine review service designed to make selecting quality wines easy.
In 2015, Krisztina became the Co-Founder and Partner of Make in LA, a hardware accelerator program. Make in LA advises and provides various types of investment and operational support to individuals, companies, and organizations in the fields of technology and innovation, ultimately aiming to build up their capabilities for the future. This program has enabled many aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, and technologists to bring their ideas to life, giving them the tools and resources to pursue their passions and make a meaningful impact on the world.
Krisztina is also the author of several books, including Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship, and she is the creator and host of the weekly radio show Start UpBeat on SiriusXM. Through these platforms, Krisztina strives to inspire the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. Additionally, Krisztina is the founder and curator of several conferences, such as HOW Design Live and Autodesk University. These conferences provide valuable learning and networking opportunities to those looking to learn more about the world of technology and innovation.
Krisztina's impressive career demonstrates her immense commitment to creating an environment where innovation and technology can flourish. She has an unparalleled understanding of the role technology can play in creating new opportunities, solving systemic problems, and ultimately, making the world a better place. It is clear that she has set the stage for countless others to realize their potential in their respective fields, and that she will continue to be an immense force for good in the tech industry for years to come.
