Natalie Fratto

Natalie Fratto is a venture investor, writer, and educator recognized for her expertise in adaptability science and its application in technology and finance. Fratto's career includes roles at IBM Watson, Silicon Valley Bank, and Goldman Sachs, where she served as managing director of firmwide strategy. Prior to her tenure at Goldman Sachs, she led startup operations for a Y Combinator-backed company and worked as a strategist for Silicon Valley Bank and IBM Watson. This cross-sector experience provided insight into how evolving technology transforms industries and workforce dynamics.

As a venture investor, Fratto prioritizes adaptability when evaluating startup founders, emphasizing the importance of what she terms the Adaptability Quotient, or AQ. She defines adaptability as the ability to respond effectively to change and argues that AQ is a critical predictor of success in environments shaped by technological disruption, surpassing both IQ and EQ.

Fratto's TED Talk, "3 Ways to Measure Your Adaptability — and How to Improve It," is among the platform's most viewed, with millions of views. In the talk, she presents methods for assessing AQ, such as using "what-if" scenarios to encourage flexible thinking, and highlights the value of unlearning and maintaining a beginner's mindset. Fratto maintains that AQ is a skill that can be developed over time.

Her writing has appeared in Fortune, Fast Company, Pando, Hacker Noon, and The Mission, covering topics including adaptability, artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, quantum computing, women in technology, venture capital, and social impact. As an angel investor, Fratto focuses on supporting underrepresented founders, advocating for diversity as a driver of adaptability and success in the digital economy. Her work has been featured in Fortune, Fast Company, BBC, and VICE, positioning her as a thought leader at the intersection of human potential and technological innovation.