Our story
Vivera is emerging as a globally distributed collective, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and independent consultants from around the world. The idea came to our founder, Melissa Renau Cano, after several months as a recent immigrant in the US. She had long sensed that, despite global challenges and the need to adapt solutions to local contexts, organizations often act in silos, limited by administrative or geographical boundaries. She asked herself: Why aren’t we learning from and sharing practices globally? Why don’t we coordinate efforts before testing solutions locally? Why should we wait for someone else to make it happen? Melissa believes in the potential for learnings from one region or innovation project to inspire and inform work in another.
She also recognized the irony many PhD holders in social sciences face: despite deep expertise, transitioning from academia to practice is often difficult, and highly skilled individuals frequently work under precarious conditions while trying to improve the world. Vivera is just beginning its journey, born from Melissa’s long-standing passion for technology for social good, meaningful work, and the belief that while one person alone cannot change a system, a coordinated collective can create real impact. What began as a personal concern is gradually revealing itself as a shared reality for many, creating space for new connections, collaboration, and meaningful change to emerge.
Our mission
At Vivera, our mission is to empower mission-driven organizations to deliver resilient, inclusive, and impactful services, while helping independent consultants in the social impact ecosystem thrive professionally, grow their skills, and shape meaningful work. We achieve this through research-informed strategies, collaborative experimentation, and practical guidance that puts people — workers, communities, and organizations — at the center.
Our vision
We envision a future where mission-driven organizations are empowered to serve and create meaningful change effectively, driving systems–level improvements; communities have a real voice, lead and co-create social innovation; and the people doing good work can grow, collaborate, and economically sustain fulfilling careers.
Are you a social impact consultant?
We are continually expanding our team and welcome new projects and collaborations. We believe that working together fosters greater social innovation than competition or individualism. If this vision resonates with you, please get in touch!