
Dr. Rosalia Zarate
RosalĂa Zárate, PhD, leads research at the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI), advancing the understanding of U.S. Latino entrepreneurship through data analysis, research, and thought leadership. She contributes to the State of Latino Entrepreneurship report and the annual forum at the Stanford GSB, both widely recognized as key resources on the challenges, opportunities, and economic impact of Latino business owners. Dr. Zárate’s work identifies trends and insights in areas such as access to capital, growth strategies, and the unique experiences of Latino entrepreneurs, while advocating for policies that drive sustainable change and support their success.
With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Zárate combines behavioral and technical expertise to bring data to life, uncovering insights that drive organizational outcomes. Her interdisciplinary approach allows her to translate complex data into actionable insights that reduce disparities and advance equity across sectors, particularly in business and education. She collaborates with academic scholars, business leaders, and community organizations to promote strategies and policies that enhance the development, visibility, and long-term sustainability of the Latino business community. Her goal is to generate actionable recommendations that foster economic mobility, equitable access and opportunity for Latino entrepreneurs.
Dr. Zárate holds a Ph.D. in Education and a Master of Science in Statistics from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Zárate has experience working in both the private and public sectors and has written academic publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Educational Researcher, American Educational Research Journal, and Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence.