News

Cultural Vistas Welcomes New Vice President of Digital Strategy and Technology

Michael Nelson, a senior product development leader, joins Cultural Vistas in a new role to shape the organization’s use of technology to more effectively fulfill and advance its mission.

NEW YORK – Cultural Vistas is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Nelson as its new Vice President of Digital Strategy and Technology, effective December 2, 2019.

This newly-created role will drive the strategic and cross-company use of technology to maximize Cultural Vistas’ impact and the value it provides its alumni, participants, partners, clients, and stakeholders.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Michael to the Cultural Vistas family,” said Cultural Vistas President and CEO Jennifer Clinton. “He brings a unique set of technical and business skills to our organization which we believe will be critical to the successful growth and sustainability of our work.” 

Michael has a proven track record of successfully leading product strategy and development for startup and fast-growth companies. He brings over 20 years of extensive product development experience from across several industries to Cultural Vistas, most recently serving as the Head of Product at Avenu Insights. Previously, he also led product and technology strategy for 3Pillar Global, Engagepoint, and Oracle.

Over the course of his career, Michael has demonstrated a proven ability for introducing innovation as a business differentiator, as well as scaling products and teams to support organizational business goals.

His technical background and business acumen will be critical to this new role. He is especially excited about the opportunity to utilize his experience to advance Cultural Vistas’ mission to enrich minds, advance global skills, build careers, and connect lives through international exchange.

“I am energized by the Cultural Vistas mission and the daily impact the organization has across so many lives and careers,” said Nelson. “With a goal to scale the reach and effectiveness of our diverse exchange programs, my focus will be on bringing a holistic digital vision and strategy that supports our long-term business goals.”

Michael holds an MBA degree from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of New Orleans.

About Cultural Vistas
Founded in 1963, Cultural Vistas is a nonprofit exchange organization promoting global understanding and collaboration among individuals and institutions. It develops international professional experiences that create more informed, skilled, and engaged citizens. Every year, Cultural Vistas’ 30-plus unique exchange programs empower thousands of individuals and organizations in the United States and more than 135 countries to drive positive change in themselves, their organizations, and society.

Learn more at culturalvistas.org.