Ariana is the Co-Founder and CEO of Coding it Forward, leading a growing movement to ensure the next generation of technologists can build their careers in service of the public good. Since its founding in 2017, Coding it Forward’s first-of-its-kind Fellowship has connected over 700 early-career technologists with 80+ local, state, and federal government offices to provide the technical capacity a modern democracy requires. The program also served as the model and inspiration for the federal government’s U.S. Digital Corps, a two-year program for early-career technologists. With demand from over 30,000 young people to date and 8,900 applicants in 2026 alone, Ariana’s work is redefining how young people will build a technology-forward future that better serves us all.
The granddaughter of Mexican immigrants and raised in a family of local public servants, Ariana’s commitment to empowering public institutions through technology is deeply personal. Before becoming CEO, she served as Deputy Director, overseeing programs and partnerships. In 2021, she led the organization’s expansion into state and local government, multiplying CIF’s impact when communities needed it most. Prior to CIF, she worked with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Data Team and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics, and conducted public safety research at Justice & Security Strategies, Inc. Ariana holds a BA in Government and Computer Science with a certificate in Technology Science from Harvard University.