Former Google and Apple leader Aparna Behari joins Resilience Education as Chief Operating Officer
Charlottesville, VA — Resilience Education is pleased to welcome Aparna Behari as its new Chief Operating Officer—a dedicated mentor, an experienced leader in the tech industry, and a passionate advocate for fair chances.
Resilience Education Board and Team Members at UVA | Northern Virginia. Left to right: Greg Fairchild, Loretta Bonifacio, Bryan Eagle, Aparna Behari, Alex Sharif, Robin Smith, Terri Tierney Clark, and Tierney Fairchild.
Aparna Behari’s connection to Resilience Education began as a mentor. Over the past four years, she has volunteered her time and expertise to coach justice-impacted individuals as part of the Resilient Professional Community’s flagship mentoring program. Supporting them with career reentry and transition through resume reviews, mock interviews, and guidance on navigating the corporate landscape. To date, she has mentored five motivated individuals, building relationships, offering encouragement, and helping people transform aspirations into reality.
Erin Alomar, Behari’s former mentee, says the new Chief Operating Officer will be an “invaluable asset” to Resilience Education: “Aparna brings not only her deep expertise and professionalism but also a profound commitment to empowering justice-impacted individuals to build meaningful, sustainable careers”.
Alomar said that being mentored by Aparna was a truly impactful experience. “Her guidance was thoughtful, her professionalism inspiring, and our conversations always felt natural. Aparna’s support extended well beyond the formal mentorship period, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as my career evolves,” she added.
As Behari takes on the role of Chief Operating Officer, Behari brings more than 20 years of leadership in e-commerce, digital experience, and business operations. She has held key roles at Vail Resorts, Google, Apple, and Walmart.com, most recently serving as Vice President of Digital Experience at Vail Resorts. There, she led the strategy for digital platforms, including the My Epic app, which boosted engagement among millions of guests across mountain destinations.
Her credentials in the tech industry are equally impressive: at Google, during her 11-year tenure, she launched the company’s first e-commerce channel, managed global operations for Google Play, and led mobile strategy partnerships. Before that, she helped scale Apple’s online iOS sales and launched Walmart.com’s apparel business.
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Resilience Education, Tierney Fairchild, said:
“Bringing Aparna on as COO is a full-circle moment. She’s already been a part of the heart of our mission through her mentorship. Now, with her at the helm of our operations, we’re incredibly excited about the future of our organization, and reaching more members of our growing community as well as forming new business school partnerships.”
Having graduated from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 2000, Behari has remained deeply connected to the Darden community and Resilience Education’s mission. Reflecting on her journey, she said:
“Greg’s TEDx talk first opened my eyes to Resilience Education’s work. I was so moved, I knew I had to get involved. Mentoring, teaching, and prepping candidates has been some of the most meaningful work I’ve done. When Tierney offered me the opportunity to broaden my impact as COO, I didn’t hesitate. I look forward to expanding our award-winning and specialized programs alongside our strong, mission-driven team.”
With profound expertise in digital innovation and operational excellence—and an unwavering commitment to mentorship—Behari is poised to help Resilience Education scale its programs and create even more pathways to opportunity for justice-impacted individuals across the country.
About Resilience Education:
Resilience Education is a non-profit organization focused on breaking the cycle of incarceration by improving the economic mobility of formerly incarcerated individuals through high-quality business education and post-release support. By partnering with correctional facilities, academic institutions, and private sector allies, Resilience Education empowers formerly incarcerated individuals to excel in the workforce. For more information, visit www.resilience-education.org.
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