McKenna Riggles is a dynamic and forward-thinking business development strategist with a proven track record of catalyzing growth in early-stage ventures through strategic partnerships, data-driven insights, and operational innovation. With a career rooted in scaling startups across the United States and the United Kingdom, McKenna brings a global perspective and cross-functional expertise that positions her as a highly effective advisor and leader in emerging business environments.
Currently transitioning to Business Development Specialist at CARU, specializing in global shipping container logistics, McKenna most recently served as Business Development Lead at IXperience, a pioneering edtech organization, where she architected a flagship partnership with Hult International Business School, increasing qualified applicants by 40% and creating three new academic pathways. Her stakeholder management spans multiple time zones, encompassing 30+ faculty, 15 administrative leaders, and over 200 active students—all while maintaining a 90% satisfaction rate. She also led a comprehensive marketing overhaul across six program offerings and launched high-impact events that fueled a 35% conversion rate increase and generated 25+ qualified referrals.
Previously, McKenna served in Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at FounderAI, an AI-driven platform supporting early-stage startups with funding and strategic consulting. In this role, she led the development of a proprietary AI evaluation framework that cut assessment time by 60% while enhancing match quality by 45%. Her initiative to build a seamless communication system between UK and US teams eliminated long standing operational inefficiencies and became the company’s new standard. Under her leadership, FounderAI surpassed partnership goals by 30%, added five key strategic alliances, and expanded into two new market segments, ultimately driving a 13% revenue increase.
Earlier in her career, McKenna served as a Management Consultant Intern at Transcending Potential, where she restructured marketing strategies for a South African education company, resulting in a 40% surge in customer engagement and a 15% increase in sales. Her work culminated in the creation of a go-to-market optimization playbook adopted across multiple markets, tripling the impact of the original project scope.
McKenna’s entrepreneurial foundation was built during her university years at Hult International Business School, where she participated in an intensive startup incubation program, building 8+ ventures from ground up in rapid 7-week development cycles. These startups spanned diverse sectors from consumer product goods to insurance technology apps, providing her with unparalleled hands-on experience in rapid prototyping, market validation, pivot strategies, and go-to-market execution. This foundational experience ignited her passion for early-stage venture development and equipped her with the practical skills that now drive her success in scaling businesses across industries.
With a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Hult International Business School and concentrations in Operations and Strategy, McKenna graduated with a 3.8 GPA and Dean’s List honors. She holds multiple certifications including the Pegasus Venture Fellowship, IXperience Management Consulting, and Forge Strategy Consulting, further solidifying her strategic and analytical foundation.
Beyond her professional roles, McKenna is the voice behind “REAL TALK WITH RIGGLES”, a weekly blog offering nuanced takes on industry trends, startup culture, and venture capital dynamics. As a sought-after speaker and professional development coach, she regularly contributes to industry panels and mentors emerging professionals through career transitions and leadership development. Her coaching combines strategic thinking with practical execution, reflecting her belief that sustainable success comes from aligning personal growth with professional impact.
McKenna is deeply committed to community engagement, actively volunteering with Positive Life Kenya, a nonprofit supporting youth development. Her passions include poetry, working out, and exploring new cultures—activities that reflect her creative mind and global curiosity.
McKenna is now seeking board and advisory opportunities where she can apply her comprehensive experience in logistics, AI, education, consumer products, and early-stage strategy. With a preference for startups and small teams (≤75 employees), she offers unique value at the intersection of innovation, marketing, and growth execution. Having operated businesses across the US, UK, and Africa, she brings a truly international mindset to every challenge, with proven experience managing stakeholders across time zones, cultures, and business environments.
As a collaborative, insightful, and mission-driven leader, McKenna Riggles stands out as a compelling candidate for organizations aiming to scale with precision and purpose. Her unique combination of hands-on startup building experience, international operational expertise, and strategic partnership development makes her ideally positioned to guide founders through rapid scaling and global market entry.
Mission Statement: “I will accelerate early-stage venture success by applying hands-on startup building experience, international operational expertise, and strategic partnership development to guide founders through rapid scaling and global market entry.”
Professional Attributes
Character: McKenna Riggles is a purpose-driven leader known for her integrity, adaptability, and commitment to creating meaningful impact through her work.
Knowledge: She brings deep expertise in early-stage business growth, AI integration, education, logistics, and marketing strategy across international markets, with foundational experience building ventures across diverse sectors from consumer products to insurance technology.
Strategic: McKenna consistently develops innovative, data-backed strategies that drive measurable growth, streamline operations, and unlock new market opportunities. Her approach combines rapid prototyping methodologies learned through intensive startup building with sophisticated partnership development and international scaling expertise.
Communication: She excels at cross-functional and cross-cultural communication, building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders across time zones and industries. Her experience as a speaker, coach, and thought leader demonstrates her ability to translate complex strategic concepts into actionable insights for various audiences.
