{"id":28916,"date":"2025-03-10T12:30:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T16:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/on4.wpenginepowered.com\/people\/michele-lawrence-jawando\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T14:22:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:22:14","slug":"michele-lawrence-jawando","status":"publish","type":"person","link":"https:\/\/omidyar.com\/people\/michele-lawrence-jawando\/","title":{"rendered":"Michele L. 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She serves as a bridge-builder across sectors \u2014 connecting venture capitalists, policymakers, creators and researchers \u2014 to shape a more inclusive, humanity-centered tech ecosystem. She seamlessly integrates emergent issues, narrative development, inclusive investment strategies, and policy work across all initiatives of this philanthropic organization, which has committed more than $1.94 billion to organizations that share its vision since its inception.\r\n\r\nDrawing on her legal expertise, Michele brings critical perspectives on open source systems, digital infrastructure, standards development, and internet governance, ensuring that cultural inclusion and digital rights inform the work at every level. Under her guidance, Omidyar Network has built a significant portfolio in responsible technology development and AI governance, supporting more than 100 organizations, including Pop Culture Collaborative, Partnership for AI, Anthropic, Digital Cooperation Fund, and BIA, among others.\r\n\r\nPrior to joining Omidyar Network, Michele served as the U.S. Head of Strategic Engagement and Public Policy Partnerships at Google, where she managed cross-departmental strategic relationships with political leaders, nonprofits, and think tanks. She co-led the 2020 Global Election Integrity team and created innovative global digital strategy initiatives. Her extensive public service experience includes roles as Vice President at the Center for American Progress, General Counsel and Senior Advisor to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Counsel to Foreign Relations Ranking Member, Congressman Gregory Meeks.\r\n\r\nA recognized thought leader in law and technology policy, Michele serves on the Aspen Institute's AI Elections Initiative Advisory Council. Her board affiliations include Hampton University's Board of Trustees, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Advisory Board.\r\n\r\nAs an attorney, author, and futurist, Michele consistently shapes global conversations at the intersection of technology, innovation, and social change. She is a regular commentator for international and US media outlets, bringing her insights on AI and tech policy, law and governance, social impact, democracy, and philanthropy to a global audience.\r\n\r\nMichele holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.A. from Hampton University."}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_related_content_cards","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_related_content_cards":{"heading":"As Seen In","cards":[{"title":"This third-generation civil rights lawyer wants to pave the way for humanity-focused tech","publication":"The 19th","date":"20250620","overlink":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/19thnews.org\/2025\/06\/michele-jawando-omdiyar-network\/","target":"_blank"}},{"title":"How philanthropy can thwart the 'makers vs takers' approach to AI","publication":"Compiler","date":"20250217","overlink":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/www.compiler.news\/philanthropy-omidyar-ai\/","target":"_blank"}},{"title":"Shared Power, Prosperity, and Possibility Through AI","publication":"SHRM","date":"20250815","overlink":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/topics-tools\/flagships\/ai-hi\/shared-power-prosperity-possibility-through-ai?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=aihi&utm_audience=allseg&utm_initiative=flagship","target":"_blank"}}]}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_authored_posts","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_authored_posts":{"heading":"Featured Posts","list_type":"manual","updates":[27942,27930]}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Michele L. 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