Lina Rugova is a visionary leader and dedicated advocate for underserved entrepreneurs and small business owners. As the founder and president of Emerge and Rise, a San Antonio-based nonprofit Venture Development Organization, she empowers individuals through programs like the Lotus Business Readiness Program and the ThriveXcelerator. With over a decade of experience in business consulting, Lina excels in strategic planning, digital transformation, and AI integration.
An immigrant and first-generation entrepreneur, Lina holds a BS in Business and a Master of Management in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Penn State University. She is currently pursuing a DBA in Entrepreneurship at Walden University and serves as an adjunct faculty instructor at Palo Alto College.
Through the Change Collective, Lina aims to further economic development and entrepreneurship by connecting communities. She plans to leverage her expertise to build stronger support systems for women entrepreneurs, develop cutting-edge digital literacy courses, and explore new investment models for local businesses. Lina’s passion for community building and technological innovation drives her to create impactful change and inspire the next generation of business leaders.