This is one in a series of blog posts featuring each member of The Presser Foundation‘s Board and Committee. These individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences but have one trait in common—they love music. Keep an eye out for the series to learn more about each member, their background, and why they serve with the Foundation.
Next in the series is Zulma Arria, a senior global marketing leader and arts aficionado.
Background & Career: Zulma Arria is a senior global marketing leader with extensive experience driving growth, strategy, and digital transformation at leading technology companies. She has held leadership roles at Comcast, SAP, IBM, and other global organizations, where she built and scaled revenue-focused marketing and sales organizations and capabilities. She holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge and completed the University of Pennsylvania’s Board & Governance program for nonprofit organizations.
Arria started her career with IBM as a systems engineer, where her strong customer relationships led to a sales role managing important accounts. She later became Chief of Staff to IBM Venezuela’s General Manager before pursuing her MBA at Cambridge, where she valued the diversity of thought and rich interactions with people from many backgrounds and experiences.
After completing her MBA, Arria transitioned into marketing, drawn by her interest in understanding people and positioning to meet business needs. She was recruited by Oracle to move to the United States, and later held roles at Hewlett Packard and SAP in sales, business transformation, and marketing. It was through SAP that she moved to Philadelphia, attracted by the city’s enriching cultural life.
At the core of her approach is a fundamental question: What are customer needs, what do they care about, and how can she satisfy those needs?
Music Passion: Born and raised in Venezuela, Arria grew up surrounded by a deep appreciation for music and culture. She attended concerts in Caracas at a beautiful concert hall, where Maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducted and Dr. José Antonio Abreu spoke about El Sistema. This movement left a lasting impression on her.
El Sistema – a music education program started in and grown in Venezuela – showed her how music could be more than performance: a force for equity, discipline, and joy that lifts individuals and strengthens communities. She learned that music exists not just for joy and entertainment, but that it can lift the spirits of people and bring communities together. These formative experiences inspired her lifelong commitment to music education and equitable access to the arts.
Learning about and getting involved in The Presser Foundation: Arria was first introduced to the Foundation through the DiverseForce on Boards program, where she was inspired by its legacy and mission to advance music and music education. It felt like a perfect match. She began serving as a committee member in 2024 and was elected Trustee in 2025. As a Trustee, she contributes to fiduciary and strategic planning responsibilities and contributes her perspective – another window that adds more color and nuance – to the Board’s discussions.
Serving on the Assistance to Music Teachers Committee has been particularly rewarding, as Arria learns about people who have dedicated their lives to teaching, who have done so because they love music, and whose hearts are full and happy. She has been especially moved by one recipient, who has dedicated herself to preserving her husband’s music.
Role: Assistance to Music Teachers Committee, DEI Committee Member
Favorite Part of Serving on the Board: Arria deeply values the comprehensive vision the Foundation’s efforts to support every stage of musical life – from youth education and emerging scholars to capital projects that strengthen institutions, from innovative community initiatives to assistance for retired music teachers. By funding across its six grantmaking areas, the Foundation ensures that the entire music ecosystem thrives. She also treasures the thoughtful dialogue with fellow Trustees, where equity, access, and community impact remain central to every decision.
Where do you see the Foundation in the next 5-10 years?: Looking ahead, she is inspired by the Foundation’s new strategic plan, which expands its commitment to equitable access and positions the Foundation to strengthen the Greater Philadelphia music ecosystem for generations to come.
What do you like to do for fun?: Outside of her professional and board roles, Arria is passionate about exploring global cultures, studying art history and appreciation through the Barnes-de Mazia program, and learning watercolor painting. A lifelong lover of the fine arts and live performance, she finds inspiration in music, theater, and visual art alike.
She also enjoys walking by the beach, dancing, and practicing yoga.