Katie Cheng

Senior Manager, People & Culture

As a senior manager with the People Operations & Recruiting team, Katie plays a critical role in supporting Omidyar Network’s efforts to hire best-in-class talent and craft and implement new and impactful talent and people operations initiatives.

Katie is an accomplished people operations strategist with a proven track record of transforming organizations through her expertise in strategy, human resources, and diversity & inclusion. Prior to joining the team, Katie served as Interim Chief People Officer and Senior Advisor at Friendship Public Charter School, one of the District of Columbia’s largest and highest-performing public charter school networks, driving strategic alignment between people programs and Friendship’s organizational priorities. With a commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces, Katie also founded and leads Ellaphant Consulting, LLC, advising C-suite leaders on people operations initiatives and working with nonprofits to co-design and implement talent systems with a strong equity lens.

Throughout her career, Katie has played pivotal roles in various educational institutions, including Ascend Public Charter Schools and KIPP DC, where she leveraged her deep understanding of human resources to drive impactful change. As a skilled communicator and leader, Katie has overseen complex projects, such as the successful reopening of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of comprehensive performance enablement systems. With a strong foundation in data-driven strategy and a commitment to fostering growth and innovation, she has consistently championed diversity & inclusion initiatives, building cross-functional relationships, and empowering teams to excel.

Katie holds a B.S. in Biology & Society from Cornell University, an MBA from Yale School of Management, an MST in adolescent education from Pace University, and a M.Ed. in leadership in urban education from the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems.