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Cristina Cárdenas

Cristina Cárdenas

María Cristina Cárdenas Peralta is Government Affairs Manager at Coursera, where she leads strategic partnerships with governments, multilateral organizations, academic institutions, and private-sector stakeholders to advance workforce development, digital transformation, and AI readiness initiatives.

She specializes in designing and scaling large-scale skills development programs that equip learners, workers, entrepreneurs, and public servants with the capabilities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. Throughout her career, she has successfully brought together diverse stakeholders—including ministries, development banks, international organizations, industry associations, and technology companies—to develop innovative solutions that deliver measurable impact and expand access to opportunity.

Prior to joining Coursera, Cristina founded 3C Innovation, a consulting firm focused on leveraging technology to strengthen education systems, workforce development, and digital skills across emerging markets.

In the public sector, she served as National Director of AprendeMX at Mexico’s Ministry of Education, where she led the country’s digital inclusion strategy aimed at developing digital skills among teachers and students nationwide. Previously, as part of Mexico’s National Digital Strategy within the Office of the President, she led education-focused initiatives that promoted the use of technology to improve learning outcomes and modernize educational services across government institutions.

At the international level, Cristina has collaborated with organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, D.C. Her work has focused on fostering public-private partnerships, expanding access to education and workforce opportunities, and supporting economic development through innovation and technology.

Cristina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Essex, United Kingdom. She is a founding board member of CONECTADAS and actively supports social impact initiatives, including Christel House International and Casa de María, organizations dedicated to expanding opportunities for underserved children and youth.

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  • Organization
    Coursera
  • Profession
    Government Affairs Manager
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Related sessions
In person
7 July 2026
•
10:30 - 11:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
From learning to opportunity in an AI-powered world

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