Strategic Communications Lead, Spatial Planning Reform and Visual Appeal Programme at UNDP
📍 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Madison Marks is a global professional focused on emerging tech, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. At UNICEFs Venture Fund, she invested in frontier technologies to impact children globally. Previously, she was the Managing Director of the Social Innovation Lab at Johns Hopkins University, scaling mission-driven ventures in Baltimore.
Having lived in the UAE, Jordan, and Lebanon, Madison has deep experience in cross-cultural exchange. Her background includes a Masters in Arab Studies from Georgetown University and extensive study of Modern Standard Arabic. In her free time, she volunteers as a startup coach and mentor for global incubators.
She was the first woman to lead the Social Innovation Lab at Johns Hopkins.
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Experience
13 Years
Current Role
Strategic Communications Lead, Spatial Planning Reform and Visual Appeal Programme
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Personality Overview
How Madison shows up
Precise But Practical
Fast But Analytical
ROI Driven
They are not always relationship oriented. They like to move fast and expect the same from others. They prefer to be the ones controlling the conversation or defining the terms.
Priorities
Topics Madison cares about
Emerging Tech for Good
As Portfolio Strategist at UNICEF, she invested in early-stage, open-source emerging technologies to positively impact children on a global scale.
Social Innovation
Led the Social Innovation Lab at Johns Hopkins, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help social entrepreneurs develop sustainable, impactful ventures.
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Career
Work history
2-2025
Strategic Communications Lead, Spatial Planning Reform and Visual Appeal Programme
UNDP
7-2022 - 8-2025
Portfolio Strategist, Venture Fund
UNICEF
8-2020 - 7-2022
Managing Director, Social Innovation Lab
Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV)
10-2019 - 7-2020
Exposure Program Manager, Expo Live
Expo 2020 Dubai
12-2018 - 10-2019
Marketing / Communications Manager
Startupbootcamp
In the press
Media appearances
Empowering Sustainable Urbanization: MoMRAH and UNDP Join Hands in Saudi Arabia. Featured in UNDP Saudi Arabia
Dominance (D) reflects how goal and task oriented a person is, and their ability to accomplish results irrespective of how demanding the circumstances might be. Those scoring high tend to be motivated by winning, competition, and success.
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