Kara DeFrias

Kara DeFrias is a strategic operations expert with a proven track record of making significant impact in both the public and private sectors. With extensive experience working on high-profile events like the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and the Women's World Cup, Kara has a unique background that includes serving in the Obama White House on the Cancer Moonshot initiative and as the Chief of Staff for QuickBooks Online Platform at Intuit.

Kara's career journey spans positions in the Obama Administration, Intuit, and various prestigious organizations. She was appointed to the first class of White House Presidential Innovation Fellows in 2012, where she focused on leveraging technology to enhance government services. A distinguished graduate of Penn State University, she holds a Master's degree in Instructional Design and has received recognition for her innovative work and dedication to empowering underrepresented groups in the tech industry.

As a sought-after guest lecturer at renowned institutions like Harvard and Stanford, Kara shares her insights on the human side of technology and advocates for inclusivity in the tech world. She is an international speaker and keynote at prominent events such as SXSW and TEDx, where she inspires audiences with her expertise in product innovation and user experience design.

Kara's commitment to mentorship and education is evident through her involvement in advisory boards for UC San Diego's User Experience Design program and the National Children's Museum in Washington, DC. She has been recognized for her leadership and influential contributions, being named a San Diego Woman Who Moves the City and honored as one of DCFemTech's Powerful Women Designers.

With a background in theatre and English from Elizabethtown College, Kara brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work, blending creativity with strategic thinking. Her career highlights include roles in technology strategy, user experience design, and executive leadership, reflecting her versatile skill set and passion for driving impactful change in both corporate and government settings.