About Adriana Vela

Named one of the “10 Most Empowering Women Leaders of 2021”, Adriana Vela is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur, award-winning author, strategist, technology and market trends expert, and certified business and leadership coach.

Her enterprise successes include launching dozens of products, driving industry standards, leading million-dollar initiatives, and defining new markets. As an entrepreneur, she has been quoted or featured in journal publications such as The Milken Institute Report: ‘Minds-to-Market’ and the San Diego Business Journal; in magazines like PM Networks, PharmaTech Europe, SmallTimes, Hispanic Business, San Diego Magazine, and Industry Era Magazine.

Specializing in brain science performance optimization, she is a trained and Certified Professional Behaviors Analyst, a Certified Professional in Driving Forces, and a Certified Professional in Emotional Intelligence. She created the Human-First Performance Systems™, Coaching-as-a- Benefit™ (CaaB) system, and the Fix-My-Brain-Adriana™ series.

Adriana is the author of the upcoming book, “Brain Science for the Soul – Time to Update Your Leadership Playbook!”. In her book, she focuses on her study of cognitive sciences and the scientific research of innovative neuroscientists. She gives meaning to the intersection and relationship between the brain and the soul, which ultimately impacts everything and everyone around you – the workplace, companies, partnerships, and relationships.

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”

Stephen Covey

As the founder of MarketTecNexus, she blends her 15 years of experience in global Fortune 500 companies with 16 years in entrepreneurial ventures and client projects to provide solutions that address challenges caused by the rapid pace and magnitude of innovation-driven disruptions.

Prior to MarketTecNexus, Adriana embarked on the Life Sciences arena through various client-led projects including the BioAgenda Think Tank Institute. In 2004 she founded award-winning NanoTecNexus Inc, a San Diego non-profit corporation to promote safe and market-accepted advances in nanosciences in areas ranging from medicine, healthcare, energy, water, and others.

Under Adriana’s leadership, NanoTecNexus earned numerous awards including personal recognition from US Senator Dianne Feinstein. Early on, NanoTecNexus partnered with UC San Diego Medical Center as a named sub-recipient in a $20 million, 5-year grant funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Funding led to the creation of a Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (CCNE) whose mission was to reduce to suffering for cancer patients and caregivers with nanotechnology applied solutions to cancer.

Prior to founding NanoTecNexus, Adriana was instrumental in building and shaping a similar organization in Silicon Valley. In 2013, Adriana also founded NanoTecNexus Learning Group to deliver similar educational programs for the benefit of K-12 students through nano-inspired STEM education.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

Anais Nin

She has been an invited speaker nationally and abroad on various aspects of innovations and has served as an advisor for technology conferences, several independent boards, and decision-making committees.

Adriana and her husband are caregivers to her mother-in-law.  In her ample spare time outside of business, she enjoys hiking, gardening, traveling, movies, and entertaining. Most of all, she treasures family time with her husband, grandma, and two kids.