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Laurie Yoler
Board Member and General Partner at Playground Global
Laurie Yoler is a prominent venture capitalist and general partner at Playground Global, a Silicon Valley-based early-stage deep-tech venture capital firm. With extensive experience in technology and investment, Yoler has played a significant role in the growth and development of various companies across different sectors.
Professional Background
Yoler has a diverse career spanning several decades, during which she has held key positions in both startups and established corporations. Notably, she was a founding board member of Tesla, contributing to the company's growth from its inception through its public offering. Additionally, she served as the president of Qualcomm Labs and has been involved with several other innovative companies, including Zoox (now part of Amazon), where she was also a founding board member.
Her experience includes:
- General Partner at Playground Global since July 2019.
- Board Member at Bose Corporation since 2018.
- Member of the Board of Directors at Church & Dwight Co., Inc. since 2018.
- Founding Managing Director at GrowthPoint Technology Partners, where she advised tech entrepreneurs on strategic alliances and fundraising.
Education
Yoler graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a degree in management information systems. She has furthered her education through executive programs at prestigious institutions such as the Kellogg School of Management, Stanford University, and INSEAD. She also holds a CERT certificate in Cybersecurity Risk Oversight.
Areas of Expertise
Laurie Yoler specializes in advising companies on disruptive technologies, including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Robotics
- Automation
- Logistics
Her strategic insights have made her a sought-after advisor for both public and private organizations.
Current Roles
In addition to her role at Playground Global, Yoler is actively involved on multiple boards and advisory committees, including:
- Church & Dwight
- Bose Corporation
- The Computer History Museum
- Advisory roles with organizations like Accenture and AI4All.
Yoler's commitment to continuous learning is evident as she engages in ongoing education at Stanford University, focusing on various fields such as biotechnology and neuroscience.
Overall, Laurie Yoler's extensive background in technology investment and her leadership roles across multiple influential companies underscore her significant impact on the venture capital landscape.


