Description
Yao brings over 25 years of experience in AI research, engineering, product development,
strategy, and innovation. A proud MIT graduate, she holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s
degree in Computer Science, specialising in Artificial Intelligence. She also serves as an Alumni
Ambassador for the MIT AI Lab. In a moment of weakness, she defected to Harvard for her MBA.
Her MIT friends have mostly forgiven her.
An eternal optimist with a healthy dose of scepticism, Yao believes AI can change lives,
especially in underserved communities—as long as we put real-world impact on people first,
costs in check, and ethics out of the fine print.
Beyond her day job, Yao is a serial volunteer. She has worn many hats: entrepreneurship
instructor at a medium-security prison, founding venture team member of a startup hub in Kenya,
PR officer for an LGBTQ+ youth housing initiative, climbing partner for an adaptive climbing
group, startup advisor in climate and health tech, and educational counsellor for MIT admissions.
She’ll always tell you if you have spinach in your teeth.
