Kelli Rhee is reshaping how philanthropy drives policy change by applying business rigor and data-driven strategies to America's most pressing challenges. 
 
As president and chief executive officer of Arnold Ventures, she has led its deployment of nearly $2 billion across issue areas spanning health care, education, infrastructure, public finance, and criminal justice. Her leadership approach combines research with strategic partnerships and investments to accelerate the path from evidence to meaningful reform.
 
Since being named CEO in 2017, Kelli has spearheaded significant growth across Arnold Ventures’ policy areas. To power this growth, she scaled the organization to a 40% increase in contributions while significantly expanding the team and growing to three office locations, including Houston, New York City and Washington, D.C. Notably, she architected and led Arnold Ventures’ strategic restructuring from a traditional foundation to a limited liability company, enabling the organization to enter new areas, such as mission-aligned investments.
 
With decades of business experience, she has navigated organizations through complex restructurings, managed corporate development and governance activities, championed new public policy solutions, and executed significant capital transactions. Kelli’s expertise spans from start-ups to private enterprises to publicly traded companies.
 
Recently named to Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” list, Kelli is based in Houston, where she serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Partnership. She earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, a master’s degree from Stanford Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University.