Sylia Obagi

Sylia Obagi is a performance-driven strategist and philanthropic leader with extensive experience in foundation management and social impact initiatives.1 She served as Vice President of Finance and Operations at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation from January 2020 to August 2022.1 In this role, she was responsible for finance/accounting, grants & knowledge management, technology, and other business management functions for the $100M/year private foundation.1

Currently, Obagi is the Founder and Chief Strategist of The Generative Group, which she established in May 2017.1 The organization supports philanthropists and social-purpose organizations in maintaining their core values while investing in positive social change.1

Obagi's career highlights include:

1. Director of Program & Operations at The Annenberg Foundation (2006-2014)1
2. Vice President of Operations & Business Development at The Community College Foundation (2002-2006)1

She holds several certifications, including:

• Board Source Certified Governance Trainer
• Certified Professional Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Professional Coach1

Obagi is multilingual, speaking Spanish and Arabic in addition to English.1 She is actively involved in philanthropy and frequently speaks at conferences related to the field.23