Lara Rich is a strategy and operations leader with 13+ years of experience at the intersection of education, health, and research. She currently serves as Senior Manager for the AI & Organizations Lab at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. Before joining HAI, Lara spent several years at Stanford’s Center for Digital Health, where she led research operations, oversaw a $1.5M+ grant portfolio, and brought together leaders from academia, biopharma, and technology through national convenings and global forums.
Lara’s career began in community health within an international non-profit. She earned her Master of Education in Policy, Organizations, and Leadership from the University of Washington while simultaneously leading implementation of a department-wide strategic plan across the UW Department of Medicine. Across each role, her strengths have been in strategic planning, operational effectiveness, leadership, and organizational transformation.