Managing Up (and Across)

​About the Session:

​This session covers the practical skills that drive alignment and influence when working with senior leaders and cross-functional peers.

Drawing from experience building teams under and with C-suite and senior leadership, we'll explore:

1. Grounding feedback in impact – Framing concerns so they land with senior stakeholders
2. Controlling the narrative – Getting ahead of problems and shaping perceptions
3. De-escalating tension – Managing misalignment and high emotions
4. Creating alignment – Building consensus without formal authority

Come ready to discuss real scenarios. Leave with techniques you can use immediately to increase your influence and reduce friction.

​About the Host:

​Natalie Riso is a strategic leader at the intersection of startups, venture, and partnerships, dedicated to helping founders scale responsibly and access the right capital. As Head of Startups and Strategic Partnerships at Rho, she oversees the partnerships function across high-impact relationships with VCs, software providers, and ecosystem leaders to drive Rho’s GTM strategy.

A 3x LinkedIn Top Voice, Natalie has been featured in Inc., Fast Company, Cosmopolitan, and Motherboard for her insights on startups, partnerships, and venture strategy. She has led founder success initiatives at Mercury, the Long-Term Stock Exchange, and 500 Global, shaping programs that have supported thousands of startups.

Beyond her day-to-day work, she is a frequent mentor at NEXT Canada, Monday Girl, and formerly a16z TxO and a sought-after speaker on early-stage venture, startup ecosystems, and partnership leadership.