Natalye Paquin is the Chief Operating Officer of The Rockefeller Foundation, a global institution with a mission to promote the well-being of humanity around the world. Before joining the Foundation, Paquin served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Points of Light Foundation, a nonpartisan global nonprofit, founded by President George H.W. Bush that inspires and mobilizes people to act through volunteerism and civic engagement. She is highly regarded for her engaging leadership style and is committed to social impact work.
A lawyer by training, Paquin began her career in litigation. She spent more than 15 years in legal and executive leadership roles in the education sector focused on civil rights, school reform, and employment matters. Paquin’s expertise sits at the intersection of the public, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, leveraging experience through professional and governance roles, and as an independent director on three corporate boards.
She earned an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University and Juris Doctor degree from the DePaul University College of Law. Paquin maintains her connections to community through volunteerism and civic engagement. She is an avid traveler and is married with two young adult sons.
Authored Content
Jan 18 2024 Perspective Investing in the Rockefeller Model of Philanthropy In 1964, The Atlantic began a review of The Rockefeller Foundation’s impact on its 50th year of operations with a series of questions: “An evaluation of the Rockefeller Foundation, as of any institution, must grapple with these four questions: What is the purpose? How important is it? Has the purpose been achieved? What does this […]
Mar 30 2023 Perspective 5 Things We Can All Do Better to Advance Gender Equity Every day, women are helping women advance human rights, tackle climate change, drive economic growth, secure nourishing and sustainable food, and prioritize health, all around the world. As this Women’s History Month comes to a close, we carry the inspiration of their accomplishments forward throughout the year. While we applaud women supporting women, advancing gender […]
Mar 08 2023 Perspective Embracing Work That Advances Gender Equity There is no question about it: women must be accepted as equal partners with men if we are to successfully address the shared and existential challenges of our time, from climate change to economic resilience to global health and security. But despite how surely we know this, the data shows gender disparity is so entrenched […]