Dr. Lauren Sanchez Gilbert

CEO of BellXcel

Education technology visionary Lauren Sanchez Gilbert, Ed.D., is the chief executive officer of BellXcel, a leading nonprofit software development company. Sanchez Gilbert joined BellXcel in 2011 and served in executive leadership roles, including vice president of community impact and chief strategy officer, before becoming chief executive officer in 2017. As CEO, Sanchez Gilbert leads a team of developers, software engineers, educators, researchers, creatives and client partners and drives the company’s mission to be the leading edtech engine for youth programming and workforce development.

Sanchez Gilbert knows what keeps youth leaders, educators and school administrators up at night because she’s walked in their shoes. From YMCA director of youth programming to special education teacher in her native New Mexico to assistant superintendent for a large school district in Massachusetts, she is uniquely qualified to lead BellXcel's transition from a direct provider of out-of-school programs to an education technology and software development company serving community-based organizations across the country.

Sanchez Gilbert holds a doctorate in education from Boston College and a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of New Mexico. She attended the highly-selective nonprofit leadership program at Harvard University and is a Results for America Nonprofit Fellow. Her board service includes the Bridgespan Group's Knowledge Advisory Board, focused on accelerating impact in the social sector, as well as Roca's Board of Directors, focused on engaging young adults to create systemic change in urban environments.