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Hillary Lehr

CEO at Quiller | Operating Partner at Higher Ground Labs

Hillary Lehr is the CEO and Co-Founder of Quiller, an AI copilot designed to assist Democratic campaigns and allied organizations in creating and deploying high-quality, effective fundraising content.12 With a background in political technology and social impact, Lehr has established herself as a respected leader in the civic tech and political tech sectors.

Career Highlights

Lehr's professional journey includes several notable positions:

  • CEO and Co-Founder of Quiller
  • Operating Partner at Higher Ground Labs, a political tech investment firm
  • Vice President of Client Success at Hustle (2016-2018)
  • Managed partnerships at Brigade and Causes.com
  • Worked in environmental and human rights organizations, including Global Exchange and Rainforest Action Network

Expertise and Focus

Hillary Lehr specializes in:

  • Rapid scale at civic tech startups
  • Political tech investment
  • Nonprofit and campaign management
  • Coaching startup founders
  • Strategic planning and program launches

She has been instrumental in launching impactful programs like AllHands, focusing on technical talent recruitment, and Uptime 2020, which emphasized security and technology reliability.

Education

Lehr's educational background includes:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley
  • Bachelor of Science in Conservation & Resource Studies from the University of California, Berkeley
  • Credential in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School
  • Executive MBA in Business Administration and Management from Quantic School of Business and Technology

Personal Insights

As an LGBTQIA+ founder, Lehr believes in the power of authenticity and the ability to bridge communities. She advises aspiring queer founders to develop a healthy relationship with feedback and rejection, viewing these experiences as opportunities to leverage their unique perspectives.1

Hillary Lehr's LinkedIn username is hillarylehr, as mentioned in the query.

Highlights

Aug 29 · linkedin

🚀 Exciting News! This fall, I’m heading to Harvard Kennedy School to complete my Masters in Public Administration.

I’m delighted for this opportunity to leverage my 15 years in political tech to build out my long-haul vision and leadership at the intersection of technology + society, especially in the age of artificial intelligence.

I’ll be balancing a very busy fall season of study with my ongoing work at Quiller, where I’ll continue to champion responsible AI adoption in our campaigns. With 2024 being a crucial election cycle, I'm using this opportunity to combine my ongoing electoral work with a deep dive into academic methods to enhance long-term voter enthusiasm and civic engagement. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you wish campaigns could do differently during election season—please share your insights!

I firmly believe that AI has the potential to greatly enhance not only political campaigns but also policy-making, societal needs assessment, and government service delivery. However, achieving AI’s full potential requires substantial engagement, communication, and determination to ensure it delivers on its promise and improves the quality of life across society. I’m motivated to help us get there.

At Harvard Kennedy School, I'll be joining a cohort of 250 mid-career changemakers from 68 countries. Mid-career MPA students at HKS bring an average of 12-16 years of professional experience, enriching our classrooms with highly accomplished professionals from diverse roles in politics, NGOs, private sector, and international work in education, development, aid, climate, and security. I’m so excited to learn from this inspiring group and make the most of this precious semester on the Harvard campus.

I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and want to thank my wonderful wife, family, colleagues, mentors, and friends for their support as I take on this new challenge.

And, of course, I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and knock on East Coast battleground doors this GOTV season!

Aug 24 · linkedin

Whew, my batteries are charged! 🔋 I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience the unifying power of hope and joy at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

What energy! A palpable feeling of forward momentum and possibility electrified Chicago. It feels wonderful. ⚡️

Especially after the pandemic paused our big plans for an innovation space in Milwaukee in 2020, it was wonderful to see the beautiful Higher Ground Labs and Microsoft Innovation Lounge this year. I loved having the chance speak on a fascinating panel (which happened to be all women!) about AI and Democracy with AI experts, practitioners and electeds, prepared by NosTerra Ventures and Higher Ground Labs. Last but not least, it was so lovely to meet up with my Quiller team to experience this important moment as we connected with our users old and new. It’s an honor to be in a position to define and claim the advantages of responsible AI with our hardworking partners in this pivotal election.

There is so much at stake this cycle and I love welcoming in friends old and new ready to plug in and build a positive future for all of us. Let me know if you want to get involved. The resolution, unity, and joy feels unstoppable. Here we go!

Related Questions

What inspired Hillary Lehr to start Quiller?
How does Quiller's AI copilot work?
What challenges has Hillary Lehr faced as an LGBTQIA+ founder?
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Hillary Lehr
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Location

San Francisco, California, United States