Biography:
Carol Elizabeth Reiley (born 1982) is an American business executive, computer scientist, and model. She has played a pioneering role in the development of teleoperated and autonomous robot systems in various fields such as surgery, space exploration, disaster rescue, and self-driving cars. Throughout her career, Reiley has worked at renowned companies including Intuitive Surgical, Lockheed Martin, and General Electric. She is known for her exceptional leadership abilities, entrepreneurial mindset, and dedication to technological advancement.
Reiley’s interest in technology and global humanitarian work can be attributed to her family background. Born in Flint, Michigan in 1982, she soon relocated with her family to Vancouver, Washington. Her father, an engineer, and her mother, a flight attendant, were instrumental in shaping her passion for technology. Growing up in a Mandarin-speaking household, she was deeply influenced by her parents, who are originally from Taipei.
Even from a young age, Reiley displayed an innate curiosity and creative spirit. At the age of eight, she invented a humane mousetrap to catch her runaway pet hamster. Inspired by the Babysitters Club book series, she started her first business at the age of ten. These early experiences laid the foundation for her future endeavors in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Reiley embarked on her academic journey by pursuing a B.S. degree in computer engineering from Santa Clara University, which she earned in 2004. During her undergraduate studies, she focused on robotics research. She then went on to obtain an M.S. degree in computer science from Johns Hopkins University in 2007, with a specialization in haptics. Motivated by her passion for computer vision and artificial intelligence, Reiley enrolled in a Ph.D. program but eventually decided to drop out to pursue a startup idea in Silicon Valley, where she moved while writing her dissertation.
Reiley’s career has been marked by significant contributions to various industries. She has been involved in the development of surgical robotic systems at Intuitive Surgical, space robotic systems at Lockheed Martin, and self-driving cars at Drive.ai. At Johns Hopkins University, she also took on the role of an instructor, co-teaching courses on haptics for surgical robotics and developing Facebook apps.
As a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Reiley has made a lasting impact on the business world. She founded Squishybotz, an education company, and authored and published the children’s book Making a Splash in 2015. This book promotes the concept of a growth mindset, encouraging children to embrace challenges and develop resilience.
In 2015, Reiley co-founded Drive.ai and became its president. Her visionary leadership propelled the company in the field of autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, she has served as the CEO of a healthcare startup, a creative advisor for the San Francisco Symphony, and a brand ambassador for Guerlain Cosmetics.
Reiley’s accomplishments have earned her recognition as a leading entrepreneur and influential scientist. She was the first female engineer to grace the cover of MAKE magazine and has been consistently ranked by Forbes, Inc, and Quartz for her outstanding contributions to the fields of technology and entrepreneurship.
Awards:
– [List any awards or recognitions received by Carol E. Reiley here]