Dayanna Torres M.S., M.A. is the Founder and Principal of Evolucionada Consulting. With more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning philanthropy OK, economic development, government, higher education, and cross-sector partnerships, she has held leadership roles across public, private, and nonprofit institutions, including the Ares Charitable Foundation, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Throughout her career, she has led complex cross-sector initiatives that translated strategy into execution, advancing economic growth through strategic partnerships and philanthropic, public, and private investment.
Dayanna talks about her learning experience in XSD– The faculty collectively and program staff had the greatest impact because they intentionally created an authentic environment where experienced professionals felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable, challenge one another’s thinking, and reconnect with the problems we were most passionate about solving. The opening in-person residency established a level of trust, openness, and community that carried throughout the virtual portion of the program. That foundation mattered.
As the program became more demanding and many of us balanced significant professional and personal responsibilities, the faculty remained present, engaged, and genuinely invested in our growth. Their involvement kept us connected to one another and to the work, even when life became busy. They consistently encouraged us to ask better questions, test our assumptions, remain curious, and embrace perspectives that strengthened our thinking. That combination of intellectual rigor, authentic relationships, and ongoing support created a learning experience that extended well beyond the classroom. It reminded me that meaningful leadership begins with creating environments where people feel trusted enough to think deeply, challenge ideas respectfully, and do their best work together.
Advice for future applicants- Come with a real challenge you’re trying to solve, not just a desire to earn another credential. XSD’s value comes from engaging deeply with questions that have already emerged through your own experience.
Be open to having your assumptions challenged, learn from your cohort’s diverse perspectives, and use the experience to strengthen your approach rather than replace it. The program doesn’t ask you to leave your professional experience at the door—it builds on it.
How has she changed since graduating from the executive program? The program strengthened how I approach complex challenges that span institutions, sectors, and stakeholders. Today, I spend more time understanding the broader context surrounding an issue before defining strategy. I place greater emphasis on listening across perspectives, validating assumptions, and designing approaches that are practical, collaborative, and capable of producing meaningful outcomes.
As I look ahead, I’m excited to continue building my career advising and partnering with organizations across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors on translating strategy into execution to unlock greater strategic, organizational, and economic value.
I believe leaders who can effectively bridge institutions, strategic partnerships, and investment in ways that create meaningful economic and organizational value will become increasingly important as organizations navigate economic change, workforce transformation, technological innovation, and long-term growth.
Dayanna discusses how XSD has benefited her: The most significant benefit was gaining a structured approach for navigating cross-sector complexity—something I had been developing throughout my career across economic development, philanthropy, and institutional investing. XSD helped me integrate years of lived and professional experience into a more intentional leadership practice by providing the language, frameworks, and structure to strengthen how I lead .Just as valuable was learning alongside an exceptional cohort of leaders whose diverse experiences challenged my thinking and reinforced that many of today’s most meaningful opportunities emerge through collaboration across sectors.
Thank you Dayanna! If you are interested in learning more about the XSD program check out our website .Applications are open for our next XSD cohort and we are offering partial scholarships! We will have our XSD Alumni Panel August 4th, tune in if you want to learn more about this awesome program.
Also, SIS & XSD graduates are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL) in an accelerated, on-campus, or online format. The NPL program is a ten-credit master’s program; SIS Alumni must complete six credits to graduate.