“i had the pleasure of collaborating with marilyn liu during our time together at internews and was always impressed by their detail oriented approach to advancing impactful projects funded by government donors in the international non-profit sector. marilyn has a combination of strategic vision, attention to detail, and commitment to driving positive change. their adeptness in overseeing very complicated awards and ensuring full compliance with government requirements reflects their profound understanding of complexities inherent in international development work. in addition to their technical expertise, marilyn possesses a profound passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable populations. i wholeheartedly recommend marilyn to any organization seeking a visionary with a proven track record of success in overseeing projects and awards. i am confident they will continue to drive positive change and create lasting impact wherever their journey takes them.”
- director, alliance strategy and planning | internews network
my interdisciplinary lens on international dynamics is crucial for navigating complex global challenges and opportunities, and underpins my ability to develop culturally sensitive strategies.
with a master's in international business and management, i bring advanced knowledge of global markets, finance, and organizational leadership to strategically guide and scale global programs.
i strengthened my strategic approach to sustainability leadership through a focused certification program informed by the expertise of business ethics authority, geoff moore.
i possess a demonstrated proficiency in netsuite essentials, strengthening my capacity to advise on and implement integrated erp solutions for streamlined global operations and strategic growth.
this training equips me with the skills to drive creative solutions and apply design thinking principles to complex business and organizational challenges. i'm prepared to leverage these insights for strategic development and operational efficiency.
this comprehensive training equipped me with the essential skills to effectively initiate, plan, execute, and close out development projects. achieving pmd pro 1 certification, the foundational level, underscores my commitment to professional excellence in project management.
i mastered techniques for proactively identifying and resolving challenges, implemented best-in-class tools and processes, and developed a comprehensive plan to integrate these strategies into my leadership, ensuring measurable program impact.
i achieved proficiency in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (meal). this certification validates my ability to effectively track project progress, measure impact, and apply meal principles to drive data-informed decision-making in development and relief contexts.
i mastered the ability to deliver timely, reliable information in languages and via channels trusted by crisis-affected populations. ultimately, i am committed to building inclusive and safe information ecosystems that actively engage crisis-affected people in decision-making processes.
i am adept at applying delegation principles to real-world scenarios and skillfully navigating the push/pull coaching spectrum to resolve performance issues and cultivate high-performing teams.
championing belonging, dignity, and justice (bdj) is central to my leadership and professional ethos. i believe in creating workplaces where individuals feel safe, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves. my insights and skills in bdj enable me to drive impactful change and promote a culture of respect.
my leadership is rooted in a deep understanding of belonging, dignity, and justice, enabling me to proactively implement strategies and behaviors that foster inclusive cultures and address inequities in global contexts.
recognizing the specialized language inherent in gender equality work, my expertise enables me to strategically advance these conversations by establishing a shared understanding of key gender concepts to ensure clear and productive dialogue.
i understand how to integrate belonging, dignity, and justice in my approach to management and leadership, including, but not limited to understanding what core leadership values and bdj leadership pillars are; what transformational leadership is; and practices to build trust with my team.
i am deeply committed to cultivating environments of psychological safety, where individuals feel empowered to share ideas, take calculated risks, and embrace vulnerability without fear of reprisal.
recognizing the criticality of effective communication and conflict resolution in today's interconnected world, my nuanced understanding of "calling in" and "calling out" enables me to strategically navigate challenging conversations with empathy and clarity.
mastering the transformative reflect reality toolkit equips me to lead impactful initiatives promoting gender equity in media, ensuring women's voices are elevated and their contributions are amplified within diverse narratives.
i've cultivated a robust mastery of financial management fundamentals, enabling strategic financial planning, proactive monitoring, and the establishment of strong internal controls for sound financial stewardship.
this foundational knowledge enhances my ability to advise clients on strategic matters involving u.s. legal frameworks, particularly relevant for international organizations and businesses navigating the american market. this certification underscores my commitment to providing well-rounded and informed strategic guidance.
this certification empowers me to lead the strategic integration of ai solutions across global initiatives, driving transformative projects and shaping industry-leading strategies.
i developed a comprehensive understanding of generative ai's development, applications, and societal impact, equipping me with the strategic acumen to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and lead the ethical scaling of innovative ai-driven solutions.
the rapid advancement of ai demands a strategic approach grounded in ethical understanding. my certification provides me with a deeper insight into the moral considerations shaping the future of tech, enabling me to develop future-oriented strategies and provide informed guidance.
this course deepened my ability to assess global markets, financial trends, demographic shifts, and geopolitical dynamics. it strengthened my strategic foresight and reinforced my capacity to design agile, equity-driven solutions that respond to complex challenges and advance sustainable, systemic change.
deepened my expertise in identifying and mitigating corruption risks across sectors, with a focus on strengthening institutional accountability and ethical decision-making. this reinforces my ability to lead transparency-centered initiatives, and support organizations navigating complex global contexts.
applied strategic frameworks for launching and scaling social ventures, with a focus on innovative funding models, stakeholder mapping, and measurable impact. strengthens my ability to design sustainable, mission-aligned programs that bridge business strategy with social transformation.
refined my expertise in designing business strategies that maximize social and environmental impact. strengthened my ability to evaluate scalable models, stakeholder alignment, and systems-level solutions—positioning me to lead initiatives that center equity, sustainability, and long-term value creation.
this course deepened my expertise in esg frameworks, investment strategies, data interpretation, and firm-level integration—reinforcing my capacity to guide values-aligned strategy, advise on material risk, and support organizations in building responsible, resilient systems.
gained expertise in applying esg metrics to investment decisions, screening strategies, and impact measurement. this strengthens my ability to evaluate esg risks and opportunities, assess stakeholder priorities, and design sustainable, data-driven funding strategies.
strengthened my ability to assess climate-related financial risks, design sustainability strategies, and evaluate both public and private sector responses to climate change—equipping me to lead initiatives that align climate action with long-term impact and institutional accountability.
this certification strengthens my ability to assess non-market risk, support inclusive governance, and guide organizations in aligning social impact with long-term strategic value—ensuring esg commitments are authentic, accountable, and equity-driven.
“i enthusiastically recommend marilyn – marilyn’s contributions to our diversity, equity, and inclusion (dei) working group were invaluable. as a result, we created an inclusive language guide that is used by all of internews’ staff in over 100 countries. marilyn had great insights, was considerate and thoughtful, and was a joy to work with. both our work product and process were better because marilyn was there. i am convinced that would be the case with any team.”
-people and culture manager, inclusion and learning | internews network
“marilyn is an inspiring leader. i reported directly to them at the youth educational services in humboldt county, ca. this organization's mission is to train and connect passionate college students with the local community. these students work directly with community members to serve children, elderly individuals, and other local organizations. as my supervisor, marilyn provided me with the necessary tools to effectively train college students in tutoring local youth.
i learned more from marilyn than i could have hoped or asked for. not only did they share techniques and information necessary to complete my job, but they also inspired me to strive for excellence in my performance. when they moved on from their position, a deep hole was left in our work community. with their example as a leader, i stepped into the position and consistently used their leadership skills as my guide. it was an honor to work with and learn from marilyn liu.”
- director, study buddies program | youth educational services
“marilyn is one of the most patient and compassionate peers that i have ever met. they have been a guiding force in many of our belonging, dignity, and justice initiatives within our organization; all of which are additional to the dedicated time they spend on their role…. outside of being a constant advocate for justice and equity in our office, i am in constant awe of marilyn’s efficiency in their role as well as the amount of leadership they have taken on successfully having been at our organization…. all in all, marilyn is extremely dependable and is someone that i continue to view as a mentor both in their values and in their work ethic.”
-program associate | listening post collective
“marilyn was really wonderful to work with! we worked together when they recruited me for a contractor position. they not only provided a smooth onboarding process, but was gracious with any and all questions i had about human resources-related paperwork, even after the end of my contract. additionally, they were a great manager to have for the contracted work itself. i learned a lot about what goes into large-scale productions thanks to their clear and concise communication style, and management skills. they have ample experience in the global business industry, and often provides value, and a positive influence to those around them.”
-contractor | synthetic resources inc
“marilyn has a clear passion to make the world a better place. working with them at youth educational services was a pleasure as they always showed up to work with new ideas. marilyn is an innovative thinker and was always looking to help improve the overall structure of youth educational services. marilyn is very detail orientated and was dedicated to directing the students at youth educational services to resources they may have not known about. marilyn is also an active learner, and sees every situation as a learning experience. they also exude compassion and proves to be a great active listener.”
-consultant, nonprofit programs | youth educational services
“marilyn is a one of a kind colleague and human. we worked together because they were assigned to the earth journalism network portfolio of projects where i work, and they oversaw all of the procurements and grant agreements from my team and several others. this involved engagement with many different types of funders and stakeholders including private foundations, international agencies like the world bank, usaid and government donors and more on a variety of different types of projects and grant types.
marilyn was on top of many, rapidly shifting priorities but still made time to be kind, thoughtful and helpful even when extremely busy. they also successfully navigated shifting funder priorities and changes to awards with poise and professionalism.
they quickly became one of my favorite coworkers because of their sharp eye for detail, helpful guidance on contracting issues and professional, prompt communication with funders and partners. they especially thrive working with diverse teams across many different countries, and excelled even in sensitive environments.
i also had the pleasure of working with them on several internal strategy initiatives where they took on leadership and mentorship roles beyond their job description, such as participating as a moderator for an internal panel about career journeys and serving as a member of a working group to improve the organization’s inclusivity.
they would be an asset to any organization and i wholeheartedly recommend them!”
- senior program associate | earth journalism network
“marilyn and i worked together on a presentation and interactive session on ‘equalitea: lgbtqia+ networking and media landscaping trends’ for an organization-wide end-of-year event (which was something outside of marilyn’s job description). marilyn brought in some of their past branding and marketing experience, led the way in planning prior to the session, and facilitated the ice breakers and q&a throughout the actual session, in addition to making themselves available to answer queries outside of the session. they were mindful of the sensitivity surrounding lgbtqia+ communities around the world, and considered safety precautions (such as ensuring privacy by not recording the session while every other session at the organization-wide event was, and creating anonymous surveys, etc), and considerate of accessibility concerns (like providing closed captioning) in their planning. i appreciated the thoughtfulness marilyn brought to our collaboration, and would recommend them wholeheartedly for their expertise and care, and look forward to an opportunity to work with them again!”
- senior humanitarian data advisor | internews network
“it was a joy to work with marilyn… they are a superb communicator and our team could always depend on them to quickly resolve or advise on any compliance-related challenges we faced even under tight deadlines. they have excellent attention to detail and a great ability to summarize large, complex information for relevance to our funders and external partners. they were an asset to our team and i would highly recommend them.
-business manager, technical leadership unit | internews network