Zachary Klinger

About Zachary Klinger

Hi! My name is Zac, and my favorite word is “no”. I know that when I hear this word, I am doing something that is perceived as too challenging, unconventional, or unexplored, and that is exactly the indicator that I need to keep going.My goal is to apply this conviction to every single endeavor that I pursue, in hopes of being pushed as far outside of my comfort zone as possible. This pursuit paired with reflection has led to consistent growth, citing experiences ranging from working to connect rural Indigenous artisans in Andean Peru to global markets, or building the world’s first-ever undergraduate-led nuclear fusion research team from the ground up. Coming from a family of K-12 educators at Title 1 schools, where resources are scarce but the will to succeed is abundant, watching the human spirit flourish through adversity inspires me. This has led me to develop a strong affinity for the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the ultimate arena that overlays the business universe with tests of resilience, leadership, and innovation.In my free time, you can find me spending as much time as possible outdoors battling on the pickleball court, skating, or throwing a baseball.

Experience

1. Corps Member

   Teach For America

   May 2024 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   Teaching special education in hard-to-hire school district to combat the teacher shortage• Leveraging iconic late highlight reels (i.e. John Wall, Tavon Austin, etc.) to build lasting relationships

Education

• Harvard Business School

  Summer Venture in Management Program

  2024

• Vanderbilt University

  Bachelor's degree , Human & Organizational Development and Economics

• CIEE Council on International Educational Exchange

  Study Abroad, Culture, International Business, and Global Finance