Karen Lightman is a renowned leader in the technology industry, with experience in various sectors, including consumer, military, healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive industries. She has a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Vermont and a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Karen is an expert in commercializing academic research, building industry-based consortiums, and leading teams to explore market-based opportunities strategically. She has held several board positions and is currently the Executive Director of Metro21: Smart Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Karen is passionate about finding technology solutions to real-world problems and advocating for their use. She has been ranked by EETimes as one of the top 25 "Women in Tech" and was inducted into the MSIG/SEMI Hall of Fame in 2020. Karen is a resident of Pittsburgh, PA and lives with her family.