Sylia Obagi

Sylia Obagi is a seasoned philanthropic leader with a strong background in finance, operations, and strategy.

With an MBA from UCLA and CPA experience at Arthur Andersen, Sylia possesses the financial acumen and leadership skills necessary to drive impactful philanthropic initiatives.

As the Vice President of Finance & Operations at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Sylia plays a key role in scaling the foundation's capacity to invest over $150M annually in furthering its mission.

Prior to her current role, Sylia founded The Generative Group, supporting donors, grantmakers, and social-purpose organizations in driving progressive social change while staying true to their core values.

During her tenure at the Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation, Sylia spearheaded the establishment of a significant new grantmaker and facilitated collaborative efforts to maximize philanthropic impact.

At the Annenberg Foundation, Sylia's contributions included launching the foundation's LA headquarters, creating impactful programs like Annenberg Alchemy, and developing innovative grantmaking approaches.

In addition to her professional roles, Sylia is a certified professional executive coach, providing leadership and governance coaching to nonprofit leaders.

Sylia's educational background includes an MBA in Strategy & Marketing from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration & Accounting from California State University-Northridge.

She actively participates in the nonprofit sector by serving on various boards and advisory committees, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing nonprofit effectiveness and philanthropic impact.

Sylia Obagi's extensive experience, combined with her strategic mindset and dedication to philanthropy, positions her as a respected leader in the field.