We are a coalition of disruptors focused on bringing our unique specialties together to create a thriving world.
We know we can’t do the work alone - that’s why our team includes our marketplace partners, interns, board of directors, partner non-profits, donors, volunteers, and community leaders.
Our team
Our team is the catalyst that orchestrates the good brought by our broader coalition. We are a passionate group who have centered our lives on solving the world's biggest problems. Our decades of combined international experience working in startups, government, corporate philanthropy, international development, strategic communications, and higher education uniquely allow us to serve as original innovators in the anti-poverty space and unifiers of our talented network of highly specialized partners.

Mike Mannina
Co-Founder & CEO

Lara Lynn Sturgess
VP of Operations

Jonathan Dreiling
Director of Latin America Programs

Tali Kauflin
Director of Communications
and Engagement

Melissa Dessaigne
Strategic Advisor

Christophe Dessaigne
Strategic Advisor

Gabriela Ureña Valverde
Community Relations & Logistics
Costa Rica

Franklin Tórrez-Ruiz
Country Manager
Costa Rica

Chris Sanchez
Program Assistant, Costa Rica

Devin Forbus
Creative Advisor

Scott Ashmore
Design

Carrie Escamilla
Bookkeeper
Board of directors

Michael Jones
Founder & CEO, Thrive Farmers

Ken Lander
Founder & CSO, Thrive Farmers

Jay Hein
President, The Sagamore Institute

Mike Mannina
Co-Founder & CEO, ThriveWorx
We are
Purposeful
Innovative
Thoughtful
Implementors
Strategists
Connectors
Synergists
We stand for
Human flourishing
Collective impact
Local empowerment
Sustainable solutions
Inclusive economies
Integrated development
We avoid
Prescribed solutions
Inefficiencies
Silos
Mediocrity
Our structure
We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private operating foundation with an intentionally small, multi-disciplined team focused on designing poverty solutions and harnessing the talents of stakeholders to fulfill the mission. By leveraging the reach of others, we remain streamlined and only require minimal resources.
Disrupt with us
Do you get excited about solving the world's biggest problems? Are you passionate about helping the world's poorest populations? Do you want to be part of a movement that's truly changing the world? If this sounds like you, you should become a disruptor.