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Scott Benson

Strategy & Operations at Cambiar Education

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Overview 

Scott Benson is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in education and entrepreneurship, having served as a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Managing Partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. He is currently leading strategy and operations at Cambiar Education, where he champions innovative ideas and supports entrepreneurs in the education sector. Noteworthy highlights of his career include founding Trail B LLC and investing in companies like TrueAdvantage at the seed stage in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Work Experience 

  • Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives & Global Higher Education

    2025 - Current

    My role involves providing both strategic and operational support on a range of initiatives within the Provost's office. This includes Duke's global education programs and initiatives, including the Global Alliance for Innovation and Access in Higher Education (GAIA) and Duke Kunshan University (DKU), as well as the Provost's initiative on Free Inquiry, Pluralism, and Belonging and Teaching Excellence and Innovation.

  • Adjunct Instructor

    2021

    I designed and teach a graduate course titled "The Business of Education." In addition, I support and mentor graduate students enrolled in the UNC School of Education's MEITE program

  • Lead, Strategy

    2024 - 2025

    I lead a portfolio of nonprofit and for-profit education ventures at Cambiar Education, a venture design studio with a mission "to spark positive change by scaling bold ideas that massively accelerate student success for ALL."

Cambiar Education is a nonprofit venture design studio focused on student success and equity.

  • Founder

    2022 - 2024

    I founded Trail B to support visionary leaders with bold ambitions to increase their impact. Over 2+ years, I supported 15 clients with a wide range of strategic and operational needs. I worked closely with the leadership teams and boards of these organizations to assess their current contexts, clarify their visions, develop sound strategies, and plan for implementation.

  • Strategic Advisor

    2021 - 2021

    Managed special projects / strategy / research for a national non-profit philanthropy that supports innovative educators in PreK-12 education, with a special focus on children in underserved communities

  • Managing Partner

    2015 - 2021

    Designed and led two grant portfolios - Innovative Public Schools and and Model Providers - that supported innovative educators with bold ideas to reimagine PreK-12 education

  • Senior Program Officer, Next Generation Learning

    2013 - 2015

    Developed and managed a diverse portfolio of investments in K-12 education focused on personalized learning.

  • Program Officer, Next Generation Learning

    2010 - 2013

  • Director of Strategic Academic Initiatives (Broad Resident)

    2008 - 2010

    Responsibilities included performance management, internal communication, and multiple district-wide strategic initiatives for the Office of the Chief Academic Officer. In addition, I was a member of the 6th cohort of the Broad Residency in Urban Education, two-year leadership development program that places participants into full-time managerial positions in school districts and charter management organizations.

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is the local, traditional public school system of Washington, D.C. in the United States.

  • MBA Intern, Digital Marketing and Strategy

    2007 - 2007

is a nonprofit whose mission is to engage our nation's most promising future leaders to strengthen the movement for educational equity.

Raised $4,235,000.00 from Appalachian Regional Commission, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation and U.S. Department of Education.

  • Marketing Manager Intern, Xbox Games

    2007 - 2007

Microsoft Advertising provides digital advertising solutions.

  • Operations Business Analyst

    2004 - 2006

    National manager for the $20M window covering product category for a subsidiary B2B business (that later became HD Supply). Responsible for all facets of this business, including operations, marketing, and strategy.

  • Business Leadership Program

    2002 - 2004

    Rotational leadership program. Six-month rotations included positions in Corporate Strategy, Merchandising, Human Resources, and Store Management.

The Home Depot is a retailer of hardware, consumer goods, and DIY supplies both online and offline while providing home delivery services.

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