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Yoko Shimomura is the Chief Operating Officer of Washington STEM. She leads Finance & Operations for Washington STEM with a focus on ensuring financial rigor and operational efficiency to further program impact.

Yoko brings 20+ years in global operations experience spanning both the corporate and nonprofit sector. Her superpowers are in building alignment across operations and programs, improving operating efficiency and advancing culture. She is a natural integrator and systems thinker with a strong commitment to Washington STEM’s mission to advance excellence, innovation and equity in STEM education.

Prior to Washington STEM, Yoko held various leadership positions at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ending her 8-year tenure as the Chief of Staff to the COO. Her work at the Gates Foundation included driving strategic transformation efforts, program management and business operations. Before joining the Gates Foundation, Yoko spent twelve years as a Vice President in Corporate Services for Washington Mutual Bank. Through a dozen bank acquisitions and several divestitures, she managed the Corporate Property Services team’s Lease Administration, Space Management and Technology departments.

Yoko is a 4th generation Seattle native with a BA in Ethnic American Studies from Western Washington University, Fairhaven College. When she’s not working she serves on several boards focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.