Rita Fennelly-Atkinson

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT RITA FENNELLY-ATKINSON

When I was little, I dreamed of a bigger life; one I couldn’t fully picture yet, but hoped might someday be possible. As a first-generation college graduate, I’ve learned that sometimes we dream too small simply because we haven’t seen what’s possible. My work, and my purpose, is to help others live beyond their own wildest dreams.My path hasn’t been linear, and I’m grateful for that. I’ve been a military service member, classroom teacher, special educator, adjunct faculty member, instructional designer, researcher, product strategist, pathways leader, advisory board member, and author of articles and ebooks. Each role taught me something different about people, possibilities, and the systems that either open doors or close them.As a first-generation college graduate and lifelong advocate for increased access to educational and workforce opportunities, I’ve built my career around designing scalable solutions across the learning and workforce ecosystem. My work sits at the intersection of education, technology, business strategy, product innovation, and workforce development, and I bring a rare blend of experience across all five.Professionally, I love taking complex, multi-stakeholder challenges and turning them into clear, people-centered solutions. This includes launching Badge Engine, an open-source digital credentialing product, in nine months and under budget, and designing a strategy to grow a product portfolio from $1M with a trajectory toward $30M by 2031.I’m now exploring executive roles where I can lead strategy, build and scale equitable learning and workforce ecosystems, guide organizational transformation, or drive cross-sector innovation. I’m especially drawn to organizations committed to creating opportunities and solutions for the people they serve.If your work aligns with that mission, I’d love to connect.