Jennifer Sanders is Cofounder and Executive Director of the North Texas Innovation Alliance, a 501c3 public-private consortium with more than 50 members dedicated to the mission of creating the most connected, smart and resilient region in the country. It is the largest such initiative in the U.S. In 2015, she cofounded the Dallas Innovation Alliance(DIA) a 501c3 public-private partnership dedicated to supporting Dallas’ smart cities strategy and currently serves as its Executive Director. While at the DIA, she has collated a network of three dozen member organizations, 100 community partners, and has worked with over 20 departments within the City of Dallas. It’s Phase I Smart Cities Living Lab is the fastest-to-market smart cities initiative in the country. The DIA is currently focused on projects related to mobility, digital inclusion and public safety in South and Southern Dallas, including the Connected Dallas Digital Ambassador Initiative, which since 2023 has impacted more than 50,000 residents through internet and device access, 1:1 online navigation support, and digital skills training. Prior to these roles, she spent more than a decade in public affairs and change management consulting for clients in finance, energy, technology, and economic development.
She is actively involved with numerous civic organizations including serving as Vice Chairman of Better Block, Cofounder of the Internet for North Texas (I4NTX) Coalition and National Smart Coalitions Partnership, Past President of Mayor’s Star Council (now Engage Dallas), among others. She serves on Advisory Boards including the City Business Climate Alliance, Digital Texas, Board of the Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas, and the Southwestern Medical District Master Plan.
She has been recognized as the Innovation Advocate of the Year by D CEO; received the Texas Enterprise Impact Award; the UN Day Global Leadership Award, Tech Titans Technology Advocate of the Year, Alliance of Women in Technology Spark Award for Economic Empowerment, has been named to Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and Top Women in Technology, State Scoop’s Top Women in Technology, and Tech Week 100. She graduated from the University of Virginia.