Benjamin Bechtolsheim

Benjamin Bechtolsheim has a diverse work experience, spanning various organizations and roles. Benjamin is currently the Chief Operating Officer at FreeWorld, a company focused on ending mass incarceration and supporting returning citizens in obtaining living-wage jobs as truck drivers. In this role, Benjamin leads program teams that provide support to students throughout the program.

Prior to their current position, Benjamin served as the Special Assistant to the Commissioner and Director of Eligibility and Benefits Technology at the Connecticut Department of Social Services in 2021. Benjamin also held the position of Director of COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out at the Connecticut Department of Public Health in 2020, where they led the successful introduction and roll-out of COVID vaccines in the state.

Before their government roles, Benjamin was an Associate Partner in the Public and Social Sector Practice at McKinsey & Company from 2015 to 2020. Benjamin provided strategic and operational support to non-profits, philanthropies, and public agencies.

Benjamin's earlier experiences include working as a Product Marketing Manager at Google from 2013 to 2015, where they focused on promoting the adoption of Google's cloud computing products. Benjamin also held positions at the Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty as a Senior Associate for Health, Strategy, and Management from 2009 to 2012, and at the American Jewish World Service as a Group Leader in 2012. In these roles, Benjamin managed various programs and teams focused on public health and grassroots community engagement.

Benjamin Bechtolsheim completed their Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Brandeis University from 2006 to 2009. Benjamin later pursued a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a focus on Strategy, Finance, and Management at University College Dublin from 2012 to 2013.