Laura Wilkinson serves as Senior Vice President, Strategy and External Affairs at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG). In this capacity, she focuses on shaping SVLG’s strategic direction, driving long-term growth, and aligning the organization’s work with the mission of advancing innovation and business competitiveness in Silicon Valley and across the greater Bay Area. She oversees advocacy, communications, and events, to foster a cohesive and impactful approach that delivers significant value to SVLG members.

A seasoned strategist with over 20 years of experience, Laura has served in leadership roles in public affairs and strategic communications at Gap Inc., EVgo., and Ketchum. She previously worked on Capitol Hill as Press Secretary to the late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, where she developed and executed strategic messaging to advance the Senator’s priorities in energy, environmental policy, and appropriations, among other domestic and international issues. She also held senior external affairs roles at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent bipartisan, nonprofit policy research institute in Washington, DC.

Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Brown University and a Master’s degree in Political Communications from Johns Hopkins University.