eleventh haus
eleventh haus is a strategy studio for dreamers, doers, and systems-shifters—those building bold, purpose-driven futures. inspired by the eleventh house in astrology, a symbol of community, innovation, and collective progress, it’s a space where strategic clarity and intuitive insight converge. from global nonprofits to solopreneurs and emerging founders, eleventh haus supports transformation that’s both visionary and grounded—designed to align impact with intention.
about marilyn
hi! ✨ i’m a global strategy & impact advisor who drives systems-level change through visionary leadership, operational rigor, and values-aligned innovation. with over a decade of experience in global program strategy, organizational transformation, and multi-million-dollar fund stewardship, i’ve led initiatives that reshaped humanitarian response, countered misinformation, and strengthened cross-sector partnerships at scale.
currently, i am bridging my expertise in global systems with the future of international education. as an incoming pgce candidate at the university of manchester, i am specializing in business & economics education. my work is anchored in un sustainable development goal 4 (quality education), focusing on leveraging international frameworks to cultivate the next generation of ethical, strategic global leaders.
at internews, i led one of the organization’s most complex funding portfolios, managing partnerships across private foundations, government agencies, and multilateral institutions. i was instrumental in shaping enterprise strategy and providing executive oversight for rooted in trust 2.0, the largest humanitarian grant in the organization’s history. this initiative reached 81m+ people in 60+ languages by countering pandemic-related misinformation and building community-centered information resilience.
beyond portfolio leadership, i’m committed to cultivating inclusive, learning-driven organizations that center equity and trust-based philanthropy. i co-authored the internews inclusive language guide, led cross-sector policy initiatives, and designed equity-focused frameworks to align global operations with belonging, dignity, and justice (bdj) principles and justice-driven philanthropy 💖
my leadership spans sectors, from directing a community-based arts education nonprofit serving underserved populations, to scaling impact as a consultant and strengthening stakeholder strategy across cultural institutions, international development, and global business. at every stage, i champion people-first, data-informed, and impact-focused approaches that fuel sustainable, community-led change 🌍
i hold a ba in international studies (summa cum laude) from cal poly humboldt and an msc in international business & management (merit) from durham university, where i earned a distinction for my dissertation. my technical foundation includes certifications in financial management, m.e.a.l., and program leadership. i’ve further deepened my expertise through the wharton school’s business strategies and esg materiality specializations, as well as research into responsible ai through deeplearning.ai and lund university.
as a visionary integrator, i also offer an optional intuitive lens leveraging astrology 🪐 and tarot 🌙 to explore alignment, decision-making, and purpose-driven growth. this holistic approach bridges data and intuition, supporting bold, values-aligned transformation.
let’s connect to explore how we can co-create something meaningful at the intersection of global development and transformative education ✨
areas of expertise
→ ✨ strategic planning & cross-sector partnerships
→ 🌍 global program & operations design
→ 🌱 sustainability, risk mitigation, and long-term growth
→ 💻 innovation, tech integration, and ai-driven strategy
→ 🌀 brand alignment through story, systems & symbolism
→ 🔮 intuitive business consulting
“marilyn is absolutely fantastic to work with! we worked together on a marketing and pr project for a multinational company that was looking to increase their presence in asia. marilyn led the effort for the chinese market. whether it was translating english press releases from the client into mandarin, scouting out and coordinating various industry news outlets to run those pieces, or arranging interviews with industry experts and the client’s c-level executives, marilyn was on top of it all. throughout the entire project they were an impeccable communicator with both the client and fellow consultants on the project. marilyn is an incredible marketer with a diverse set of skills to ensure their clients’ success!”
- marketing project manager | hill + kincaid
“i always look forward to working with marilyn. one of their greatest strengths is their ability to refine and centralize processes across multiple teams, ensuring efficiency, clarity, and seamless collaboration. marilyn handled a job that often came under extreme pressure, helping get complex proposals and budgets over the finish line and navigating busy seasons with ease while maintaining an exceptional level of precision. their role required meticulous checks and in-depth research to prevent errors on multi million dollar proposals—where errors or discrepancies could make or break our chances of winning major awards. marilyn was so adept and meticulous and fostered a sense of trust with the teams they worked with. their ability to balance big-picture strategy with detail-oriented execution made them integral to our organization’s success. i’m jealous of the next organization that gets to work with them!”
- business development officer | internews network
