Ximena Gates

Dr. Ximena Gates-Hartsock is a serial tech entrepreneur, co-founder, and Chief Executive Officer of BuildWithin, a venture-backed technology company located in Washington, DC. BuildWithin's platform streamlines the process of addressing skills shortage challenges for employers and job-seekers. Previously, Ximena founded Phone2Action, which was acquired in 2019. She is a researcher, philanthropist, and the author of two software patents. With a background in education, Ximena has served as a former school principal and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction in Washington, DC. She currently holds executive board positions at the Washington Economic Club and The Consumer Technology Association, and advisory roles at the Center for Innovative Technology of the state of Virginia, the Migration Policy Institute, and the Gender and Policy (GAP) Center of George Mason University. Ximena has been featured in prominent publications such as Fortune, Forbes, The Washington Post, and the New York Times. Recently, she was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the 50 women in tech in the U.S. A native of Chile, she holds degrees in Spanish and Philosophy and a Doctorate in Administration and Policy from the George Washington University.