Overview

Gender

female

As an established public policy executive, Prashanthi Raman has nearly 15 years of experience navigating challenging, highly charged, and complex political environments. Prashanthi currently serves as the Director of global government affairs for Cruise, an all-electric autonomous vehicle company, where she oversees global public policies and regulatory issues. Prior to her role at Cruise, Prashanthi served as Head of State and Local Government Relations at Lyft, where, for 5.5 years, she was a critical voice in creating and expanding the ridesharing industry across North America.

Prashanthi started her career as a healthcare attorney, which ultimately led to her appointment as associate chief of staff for healthcare and human services by then governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn. She is passionate about the transportation and healthcare industries, because she’s able to make policy changes that will have an impact on traditionally underserved communities.

Giving back has always been a guiding force in Prashanthi’s life. Post Katrina, she spent two years providing legal aid and revitalization efforts in New Orleans. She currently serves on the boards of both PowHerful, a foundation dedicated to sending young women to and through college with wraparound services, and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a foundation focused on community, health, housing, and transportation public policies.

Prashanthi is a graduate of Northwestern University and received her Juris Doctorate and Master of Public Health degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and the University of Illinois at Chicago.