La‘akea Yoshida

La'akea Yoshida has a diverse range of work experience spanning various industries and roles. They started their career as a Tasting Room/Retail Manager at Volcano Winery and then worked as a Mentor Tutor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. At the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, they served as a Federal Advocacy Intern, conducting research and analysis on legislation and congressional office positions.

La'akea then joined the University of Washington where they held multiple positions, including Research Assistant, Graduate Teaching Assistant, and Predoctoral Research Associate & Sirotnik Fellow. In these roles, they performed research, managed data, copyedited manuscripts, and provided feedback on submissions.

They later worked at the Technology Access Foundation as the Martinez Fellowship Program Coordinator, where they managed logistical operations and collaborated with education leaders to address disparities in teacher testing requirements.

La'akea also worked at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington as the Assistant Director for Mission Engagement. In this role, they owned community engagement strategies, built strategic relationships, and supported the school's anti-racist mission.

They then joined Cyborg Mobile as the Community Relations Program Manager, contributing to program branding, alumni engagement, and partnership development.

La'akea's leadership experience includes roles at the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE), where they served as the Vice President of Programs, Chief Operating Officer, and Director of Research. In these positions, they provided strategic oversight, managed research projects, and led programmatic implementation across multiple impact areas.

Currently, La'akea is a Business Program Manager at Microsoft, where they lead projects and programs focused on internal engagement within the Microsoft 365 Core.

Overall, La'akea's work experience showcases their ability to manage projects, collaborate with stakeholders, and drive strategic initiatives in various organizations. They have a strong background in research, program management, and community engagement.

La'akea Yoshida completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in European History & Anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Hilo from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 to 2012, La'akea pursued a Master of Studies degree in Roman History / Roman Numismatics at the University of Oxford. Currently, La'akea is working towards a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education Leadership, Policy, and Organizations: Social and Cultural Foundations at the University of Washington, starting in 2013. In addition, La'akea obtained a Certificate in Native American Political Leadership from The George Washington University in 2013. La'akea also possesses various certifications in project management, visualization, SQL, market research, agile methodologies, design thinking, and innovation.