ABOUT ME

I've run a marathon in North Korea. I've taught English in Japan and Mexico. I've chaired diplomatic missions across four continents. And in April 2026, I competed against 120 athletes in the wilderness of British Columbia, Canada — off-road driving, physical challenges, wilderness navigation, and night operations — for a chance to represent the United States at the Land Rover Defender Trophy Global Final in Africa.

None of those things were supposed to happen. They happened because I believe in embracing the impossible.

By day, I'm Senior Principal at the Rainwater Charitable Foundation in Fort Worth, working with grantees driving transformational impact across North Texas in family economic security and workforce development. I also chair the national Board of Directors of Sister Cities International, the world's largest people-to-people diplomacy organization, connecting hundreds of American cities to partners in over 140 countries.

Before that, I served as Fort Worth's Chief of Strategy and Innovation — imagining the city in 10, 20, and 30 years and building plans to get there. I co-founded Z's Café, a social enterprise that put 137 low-income men and women back to work with dignity. I've worked with over 300 small business owners across the U.S., Japan, Mexico, and Swaziland.

I'm an Ironman Triathlon finisher. I've completed 18 marathons. I wake up at 4 AM every day to train. I speak Japanese and Spanish fluently. I hold a Harvard Master's degree in International Relations — with honors.

I'm a speaker, facilitator, and emcee — but more than that, I'm someone who believes that the most interesting work happens at the intersection of cultures, disciplines, and ideas that most people walk away from.

If you're looking for someone to help advocate as an emcee or speaker, inspire a group of students or adults, rethink your approach, or simply help you navigate next steps — I'd love to connect.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together." — African Proverb

Carlo Capua is Senior Principal at the Rainwater Charitable Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas, working with grantees focused on transformational impact across North Texas. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Mattie Parker and as Chief of Strategy and Innovation for the City of Fort Worth, where he led cutting-edge projects in blockchain, the Metaverse, FIFA World Cup 2026 planning, and long-range urban strategy — peeking around the corner to imagine the world in 10, 20, and 30 years and beginning the planning today.

In April 2026, Carlo was named one of six U.S. finalists for the Land Rover Defender Trophy — selected from 120 competitors across the United States and Canada who competed in a grueling multi-day qualifier in Mission, British Columbia. Two Americans will be chosen to represent the United States at the Global Final in Africa in October 2026, with the announcement taking place at Destination Defender in New York in May 2026.

Carlo chairs the national Board of Directors of Sister Cities International — headquartered in Washington, D.C. — the world's largest and oldest people-to-people diplomacy organization, connecting hundreds of American cities with partners in over 140 countries.

Carlo co-founded Z's Cafe, a social enterprise based in Fort Worth that has put 137 low-income men and women back to work, building job skills and returning them to the workforce with dignity and respect. In 2017, Z's Cafe won Fort Worth's 'Small Business of the Year' and 'Woman-owned Business of the Year.' He also co-founded Locavore, an innovative shared commercial kitchen providing affordable venue space and resources for local culinary entrepreneurs.

A 2000 graduate of Texas Christian University with a BBA in Marketing, Carlo spent seven years after graduation teaching English in Japan and Mexico — an experience that gave him fluency in Japanese and Spanish and a lifelong commitment to international exchange. He earned his Master's degree in International Relations, with honors, from Harvard University in May 2022, where he received the Derek Bok Public Service Prize at graduation. He has visited 20 countries, including North Korea.

Designing grassroots programs to support entrepreneurship is one of Carlo's core passions. He has worked with over 300 small business owners in the U.S., Japan, Mexico, and Swaziland to encourage outside-the-box approaches to outreach and community engagement.

Carlo is an Ironman Triathlon finisher and has completed 18 full marathons — one of them in Pyongyang, North Korea. He received the 2026 Commendation of the Head of the Japanese Diplomatic Mission. He is president of Fort Worth Forum, past president of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth — which he led through the pandemic as one of the few clubs to gain membership during those two years — and a former member of the TCU Board of Trustees, Texas Health Specialty Hospital, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Tarrant County, and Steer Fort Worth. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas with the love of his life, Dr. Rachael Carranza Capua.

Honors

• 2026 Defender Trophy North America Finalist — Jaguar Land Rover

• 2026 Commendation of the Head of the Japanese Diplomatic Mission

• 2022 Harvard University Derek Bok Public Service Price (awarded at graduation)

• Top 400 Most Influential People in Fort Worth

• 2019 Bob Bolen Award for Outstanding Board Leadership, Fort Worth Sister Cities International

• 2019 Businessman of the Year, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• 2019 “Man Enough to Be a Girl Scout”, Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains

• 2018 Fort Worth Business Plan Competition Winner

• 2017 Small Business of the Year

• 2017 Woman-owned Business of the Year

• 2014 Texas Christian University Outstanding Young Professional

• 2014 Samaritan House Spirit of Hope Award 

• 2013 40 Under 40 Honoree

• 2012 Community Trust Bank Hero