Jesse Orndorff

Background

About Jesse Orndorff

Jesse Orndorff is a technology-for-impact strategist with 15+ years of experience at the intersection of digital transformation, education technology, and civic innovation in Southeast Asia. As Founder & CEO of Glean Asia, he led the organization through a period of growth and impact, culminating in its acquisition in 2025. Under his leadership, Glean Asia built scalable, inclusive, and locally grounded systems that empowered communities, strengthened public institutions, and accelerated equitable development outcomes. Jesse specializes in government and enterprise systems, EdTech platforms, and digital public goods designed for low-resource environments. His work spans digital learning, youth-led innovation, social accountability, and data systems that enable evidence-based decision-making. He has deployed solutions that improve learning outcomes, expand civic engagement, and support rights-based advocacy in complex political and media environments. As an Open Source Mentor with UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and Venture Fund, Jesse advises early-stage ventures across the Global South on building sustainable open-source technologies. His mentorship emphasizes community-driven ecosystems, responsible AI adoption, and digital equity, helping innovators strengthen impact while maintaining ethical standards. Previously, Jesse served as Innovation Program Manager for USAID’s $15M Development Innovations project, where he introduced user-centered design and ICT4D approaches to NGOs, startups, and civic tech groups. He has secured and managed multi-donor programs with USAID, the World Bank, and UN agencies, delivering initiatives in governance, livelihoods, and digital resilience. Jesse holds a Master’s in User Experience Design, with research focused on culturally relevant education systems for underserved learners. His expertise informs the design of open-source EdTech platforms for remote schools as well as M&E and CRM systems for governments and civil society. With a commitment to open knowledge, digital inclusion, and justice-centered design, Jesse continues to work at the frontlines of building ethical, scalable, and community-driven technology solutions that foster meaningful and long-term impact.