Carl Guardino, CEO-Silicon Valley Leadership Group

“Lessons on Leadership – Silicon Valley and San Diego’s Innovation Economy”

Annually, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group produces the “Silicon Valley Competitiveness Project,” with 20 key indicators by which to contrast Silicon Valley with the other five top Tech Regions in the United States, including Southern California (San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties), Austin, Boston, Seattle and New York City. What are the skills and traits each region needs to protect and grow its success?

Carl Guardino, one of Silicon Valley’s most distinguished business and community leaders, is the President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a public policy trade association that represents more than 400 of Silicon Valley’s most respected employers.

In February 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Guardino to a four-year term on the California Transportation Commission and has been reappointed twice by Governor Jerry Brown. In 2000, the San Jose Mercury News named Guardino one of the “Five Most Powerful” people in Silicon Valley, in a once-per-decade “Power Study.” He received similar recognition in 2010.

Known throughout the region as a consensus builder, Guardino has championed a number of important issues, especially in the areas of transportation and housing. Most recently, Guardino led a 3-year effort that culminated in “Measure B” on the November, 2016 ballot, which will generate an additional $6.5 billion in local funds for traffic relief improvements. Measure B passed with 71.74% of the vote. As a housing advocate, he co-created the Housing Trust Silicon Valley, which has helped 20,000 families afford homes in high-cost Silicon Valley by raising more than $90 million in voluntary contributions.