
Lina G. Rugova
ABOUT
Facilitator | Educator | Ecosystem Builder | Advocate
Hi, I’m Lina, an innovation facilitator, venture builder, and small business advocate committed to turning ideas into thriving, sustainable ventures. My work centers on empowering communities, fostering creativity, and helping entrepreneurs move from vision to action.
I design and lead immersive programs and workshops in design thinking, strategic planning, digital literacy, financial literacy, and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. Whether it’s guiding a hands-on innovation lab or developing a tailored growth program, my focus is on equipping leaders and organizations with the tools to adapt, compete, and grow in today’s fast-changing world.
I hold a Master’s in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor’s in Business from Penn State University, along with certifications in AI, Lean Six Sigma, digital marketing, and corporate training. Currently, I’m pursuing my Doctor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship. Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked with more than 300 companies and 100 startups to build strategic plans, strengthen their market presence, and embed innovation into their operations.
As founder and president of Emerge and Rise, a San Antonio–based nonprofit venture development organization, I work with our local small to medium business owners to create lasting economic and social impact. I also serve as a full-time faculty instructor at Palo Alto College, where I teach business management and entrepreneurship, and lead the San Antonio chapter of the Founder Institute, supporting tech-enabled and high-growth founders. In addition, I am the founder of Atlas Start, a boutique consulting firm I launched in 2018, where I continue to provide strategic consulting to startups and small businesses across industries.
When I’m not collaborating with entrepreneurs, you’ll find me speaking on panels, exploring emerging technologies, or shaping strategies that connect innovation with community impact. My mission is simple: build ecosystems where businesses and the people behind them can thrive.
Transforming Ideas into Reality
Through innovative programs and expert guidance, I help communities embrace new changes and achieve sustainable growth.
Frameworks and Methods
-
Design Thinking
A human-centered approach to innovation and problem-solving that involves understanding user needs, brainstorming creative solutions, prototyping, and testing. This framework helps teams develop empathy for their users and create innovative and practical solutions.
Applications: Used in workshops and labs to foster creativity and develop user-focused solutions.
-
Lean Startup
A methodology for developing businesses and products that aims to shorten product development cycles and rapidly discover if a proposed business model is viable. This involves iterative product releases and validated learning.
Applications: Essential in startup incubator and accelerator programs to ensure efficient and effective business development.
-
Business Model Canvas
A strategic management template used for developing new business models and documenting existing ones. It offers a visual chart with elements describing a firm’s value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances.
Applications: Used in entrepreneurship development workshops to help participants visualize and test their business ideas.
-
Empathy Mapping
A collaborative visualization is used to articulate what we know about a particular type of user. It externalizes knowledge about users to create a shared understanding and aid in decision-making.
Applications: Used in design thinking workshops to better understand and empathize with end users.
-
Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluation
A model for analyzing and evaluating the results of training and educational programs. It considers four levels of criteria: reaction, learning, behavior, and results.
Applications: Applied in program evaluation and assessment to measure the effectiveness of training programs and workshops.
-
Unite Horizon of Growth
A framework that helps organizations identify and prioritize growth opportunities. It considers various horizons of growth, from core business improvements to transformational opportunities.
Applications: Used in strategic planning and innovation workshops to guide long-term growth strategies.
-
Unite Business Capability Map
A tool that maps out the capabilities of an organization, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. This helps align resources and strategies with business objectives.
Applications: Used in organizational alignment and strategic planning workshops.
-
Unite Innovation Approach/Framework
A comprehensive framework that guides organizations through the innovation process, from ideation to implementation. It integrates best practices and tools to foster a culture of innovation.
Applications: Applied in innovation labs and workshops to ensure a structured and effective innovation process.
-
Value Stream Mapping
A lean-management method for analyzing the current state and designing a future state for the series of events that take a product or service from its beginning to the customer.
Applications: Used in process improvement and efficiency workshops to streamline operations and eliminate waste.
-
Organizational Alignment
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
A process of ensuring that the organizational structure, resources, and culture are aligned with the strategic objectives. This enhances overall performance and employee engagement.
Applications: Applied in strategic planning and organizational development workshops.
-
Unite Culture Canvas
A tool for defining and developing the culture of an organization. It helps identify core values, behaviors, and practices that shape the organizational culture.
Applications: Used in leadership development and organizational culture workshops to build a strong, cohesive culture.
-
Six Thinking Hats
A decision-making framework developed by Edward de Bono encourages parallel thinking by having team members wear different metaphorical hats representing different perspectives (e.g., logical, emotional, optimistic, critical, creative, and process-oriented). This approach helps explore all angles of a problem and fosters comprehensive, balanced decision-making.
Applications: Used in brainstorming sessions, strategic planning, and problem-solving workshops to ensure diverse viewpoints are considered and to enhance collaborative decision-making.
