Information as a public good | Dr. Marielza Oliveira, UNESCO, Director, Partnerships & Operational Prog Monitoring

Marielza Oliveira is the Director of the Division for Digital Inclusion Policies and Information with UNESCO in Paris. She has a diverse background including work with the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research, AI, Science, finance, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration. Oliveira's journey to becoming an employee of UNESCO began unexpectedly when a neighbor who worked for the UN in Brazil asked her to do a fundraising project. She initially turned down the offer but was later contacted by the UN and offered a job as they were impressed by her out-of-the-box thinking and different perspective. Oliveira mentions that the private sector pays more but working for UNESCO provides more satisfaction and the opportunity to make a real contribution to changing things.