Out of Ofce

Harvard’s Harding

NATHANIEL HARDING, Cortado Ventures managing partner, launched the rapidly growing venture capital fund in May 2020, funding entrepreneurs who have a focus on innovation in Oklahoma.

The frm set up shop overlooking the Bricktown canal, and his ofce is flled with reminders of his career – which is only 20 years old but is crammed-packed with enough accomplishments for three lifetimes.

Some of the highlights? Harding is one of three Oklahomans ever named to World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders. He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Kabul, and he’s co-founded and served in leadership positions with several oil companies and consulting frms. And most recently? He just completed the Harvard Business School Executive Education’s Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century Program.

Above: Nathaniel Harding’s office is filled with mementos from his three kids as well as gifts from his time on various community boards, like the student art he received while chairman of the John Rex Elementary School board.

Far left: Hardhats and shovels from groundbreaking ceremonies from MAPS projects. Harding was on the MAPS III board for 12 years, including serving as chairman for the Oklahoma City Streetcar.

Left: A map of central and eastern Oklahoma color-coded oil fields. The map, a nod to Harding’s longtime involvement with Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry, became a successful sun-blocker and Zoom background for Harding as the map sits in front of his large office window overlooking the Bricktown canal.