Natalie Vardabasso

Natalie Vardabasso is an educational leader, speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping educators unleash their full potential—inside and outside the classroom. As the founder of The Empowerment Ecosystem and as an associate of the Solution Tree Assessment Collaborative, she guides teachers and leaders in transforming assessment practices to drive deeper learning and student empowerment.

With years of experience as an instructional coach and assessment lead, Natalie has worked with schools and districts across North America to rethink outdated systems and implement meaningful, equitable assessment strategies. She is also the co-host of "Assess That with Tom and Nat", a podcast where she and Tom Schimmer tackle the biggest challenges in modern assessment.

Beyond education, Natalie is passionate about supporting educators who are ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Through her work with Unleash YES, she helps teachers turn their expertise into thriving learning-based businesses, providing the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to succeed on their own terms.

Natalie's work is fueled by the belief that educators are powerful change-makers. Whether she's speaking on stage, leading workshops, or mentoring entrepreneurs, her mission is the same: to empower educators to create the impact—and the life—they deserve.