Julia Byrd is a seasoned professional in the fields of sustainability and entrepreneurship, currently serving as Ideate Program Lead at Mach49 since June 2022. With a diverse background, Julia also holds a position as an Advisory Council Member for the Scientific Venture Program at V1 Studio and previously managed programs at Urban Future Lab and Columbia University, facilitating growth for startups in the cleantech and climate tech sectors. Academic contributions include serving as Executive Director of Entrepreneurship at the Institute For Life Science Entrepreneurship and analysis of green building perceptions as a research assistant at The George Washington University. Julia's educational credentials include a Master's degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Russian Language and Literature from The George Washington University.