Chantelle Young: Strategic Operator and Ecosystem Builder Driving Inclusive Innovation
In the rapidly evolving world of technology and social impact, few leaders embody both strategic acumen and lived experience as effectively as Chantelle Young. Based in London, England, she is a strategic operator, ecosystem builder, and programme leader with over a decade of experience creating meaningful systemic change. Her career spans education, policy, philanthropy, and technology, underpinned by a commitment to addressing the root causes of inequality through community empowerment, coalition building, and inclusive leadership.
Currently leading early-stage programmes at Tech Nation, Chantelle Young has earned recognition for her ability to blend high-level strategy with grassroots impact. Her approach to innovation is equity-driven, placing affected communities at the forefront of designing and delivering sustainable solutions.
Chantelle Young: A Profile in Inclusive Leadership
A Decade of Experience in Driving Systemic Change
With a career that began in education and expanded into national-level programme design, Chantelle Young brings more than ten years of leadership in addressing inequality and social injustice. Her work has consistently centred on three core pillars:
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Strategic funding to ensure resources are deployed where they make the greatest impact.
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Policy advocacy to reform structures that perpetuate disadvantage.
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Community empowerment to amplify the voices and solutions of those most affected by inequality.
Her expertise spans Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) frameworks, stakeholder convening, coalition building, and translating organisational missions into measurable impact.
Current Role: Head of Early Stage Programmes at Tech Nation
Leading Innovation and Scaling Inclusive Growth
In January 2025, Chantelle Young assumed the role of Head of Early Stage Programmes at Tech Nation. She oversees the national delivery of flagship initiatives such as Libra, Creo, and Rising Stars, which collectively support the UK’s early-stage tech founders.
Her responsibilities include:
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Designing and executing programme strategy.
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Overseeing partnerships and expanding regional ecosystems.
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Providing operational leadership, including financial planning and change management.
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Embedding values-driven culture through leadership development and systems building.
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Guiding product and service design to enhance scalability and founder experience.
Her role goes beyond programme management; she influences board-level decisions, ensures alignment with national policy, and shapes the wider innovation ecosystem with a focus on inclusion.
Previous Role at Tech Nation: Programme Lead for Inclusive Innovation
Transforming Access to Opportunities
Before becoming Head of Early Stage Programmes, Chantelle Young served as Programme Lead for Inclusive Innovation between May 2023 and January 2025. In this role, she redesigned and led several pioneering initiatives:
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Libra: Positioned as a vital growth programme for underrepresented founders, offering tailored content, coaching, peer networks, and funding pathways.
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Rising Stars: Elevated into one of the UK’s premier platforms for early-stage startups, connecting them to capital, visibility, and networks.
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Creo: Developed as a supportive ecosystem for disabled founders, advancing disability-related innovations and equitable access.
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Policy work: Spearheaded efforts to address systemic inequalities in the tech ecosystem, making her a recognised advocate for equity and innovation.
Her leadership at Tech Nation has been widely acknowledged in thought leadership platforms, with features in Forbes, UKTN, and Startups Magazine.
Chantelle Young’s Broader Career Journey
Framework: Global Community Building
As Community Manager at Framework, the world’s first on-demand business school for startup professionals, she developed innovative community strategies to drive engagement and retention. Her work supported a diverse global network of business leaders and strengthened Framework’s presence through partnerships and brand development.
Multiverse: Alumni Success and Engagement
At Multiverse, a rapidly scaling edtech unicorn, Chantelle Young served as Alumni Success Manager from 2021 to 2022. She designed and implemented alumni strategies that fostered robust connections, enhanced career outcomes, and strengthened community identity during a period of fast-paced organisational growth.
UCL: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Leadership
Her contributions at University College London (UCL) were twofold. As Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, she developed a comprehensive action plan supported by sub-committees focused on critical equality issues. As Alumni Relations Manager, she transformed the UCL Connect professional development series, expanding global reach and achieving high satisfaction rates.
Skills Builder Partnership: National Curriculum Development
At the Skills Builder Partnership, she played a central role in developing a national employability skills curriculum that reached over 10,000 students in its first year. She also spearheaded partnerships with businesses and schools, contributing to organisational growth from 85,000 to more than 200,000 students nationwide.
Early Career in Education
Her professional journey began in teaching, where she worked as a Year Group Lead and ICT and Computing Coordinator at Oasis Academy Hadley. Here she designed curriculums praised by Ofsted and helped students achieve top-level results across her borough. Participation in the UpRising Leadership Programme further solidified her focus on community action and systemic change.
Education and Academic Excellence
Chantelle Young’s academic background has shaped her policy and programme expertise:
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King’s College London: Master’s degree in Education, Policy and Society (2014–2016).
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UCL: PGCE in Education, awarded with Outstanding (2012–2013).
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Queen Mary University of London: BA in History (2009–2012, 2:1 classification).
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Richmond upon Thames College: A Levels in Sociology, Politics, and History.
Her early academic achievement was recognised through awards such as the Moira Marder Cup for History and the Jack Petchey Award for outstanding voluntary service with young people.
Thought Leadership and Public Recognition
Media Features and Policy Impact
The thought leadership of Chantelle Young has been profiled in Forbes, UKTN, and Startups Magazine, where she is acknowledged as a leading voice on inclusive innovation. Her contributions to a white paper on equity and inclusion further underline her ability to influence national dialogue and policy.
Expertise and Skills
Her expertise encompasses:
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Strategic leadership and governance.
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Coalition building and stakeholder convening.
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Community building and programme design.
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Monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks.
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Policy advocacy and equity-focused leadership.
Her lived experience of systemic inequality also informs her leadership, ensuring her strategies are grounded in authenticity and impact.
Chantelle Young: A Vision for the Future
The work of Chantelle Young demonstrates that inclusive innovation is not a peripheral concern but a vital force in shaping the future of technology and society. By centring affected communities as leaders, she ensures that programmes are not only equitable but also sustainable and impactful.
Her career trajectory reflects a rare blend of strategic insight, operational excellence, and social commitment. As she continues to oversee multi-million-pound investment deployment and national innovation programmes, she remains a driving force for systemic change in the UK and beyond.
Conclusion
Chantelle Young is more than a programme leader; she is a changemaker whose work exemplifies the power of inclusive innovation. From classrooms to boardrooms, and from grassroots communities to national policy tables, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to addressing structural barriers and empowering those most affected by inequality.
Her journey shows how strategic leadership, when guided by equity and lived experience, can transform systems and create lasting impact. As the UK and global innovation ecosystems strive for fairness and diversity, leaders like Chantelle Young stand at the forefront, building coalitions, shaping policy, and ensuring that technology serves as a tool for social justice.
