In honor of Women’s History Month and our upcoming Women’s Forum, the Colorado Chamber is recognizing women business leaders, executives, and job creators who are core to our local Colorado communities. Each of the women featured in the month of March are panelists for the Colorado Chamber’s Women’s Forum on March 15.
Today’s feature is Hanna Skandera with the Daniels Fund
Hanna Skandera joined the Daniels Fund as president and CEO in 2020. Founded by cable pioneer Bill Daniels, the Daniels Fund transforms communities through grantmaking and college scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Skandera has over two decades of executive leadership experience and a proven track record of impact in a variety of national and state-level private, public and nonprofit organizations.
Prior to joining the Daniels Fund as president and CEO, Skandera was CEO of Mile High Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in organizational impact, change management, growth, and organizational culture. She has founded multiple education initiatives and leadership programs and been a visiting professor of Education Policy and Impact at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy and Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. Skandera was also a research fellow with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a Pahara-Aspen Institute Fellow.
Previously, she served as secretary of education for New Mexico under Governor Susana Martinez, realizing the most significant gains for students in New Mexico’s recent history. Her policy experience extends to serving as undersecretary for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, deputy commissioner for Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and deputy chief of staff and senior policy advisor for U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.
Skandera currently serves on the boards of Academic Partnerships, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Newsela, and Philanthropy Roundtable. She graduated cum laude with a degree in business from Sonoma State University and graduated as Valedictorian from the Pepperdine School of Public Policy. She has been named by Pepperdine as an Outstanding Alumni and an Outstanding Woman in Leadership.
“No one person has it all. Know what your unique value-add is – what you do better than anyone else — and surround yourself with people who complement you, challenge you, and respect you. Together, you’ll accomplish more than imaginable,” said Skandera.
Connect with Hanna Skandera on LinkedIn and join us at the Women’s Forum.