Trae Vassallo

Trae Vassallo currently serves on the worldwide operations team at Apple, having transitioned to the technology corporation after an extensive career in venture capital. Prior to this role, she was the Co-founder and Managing Director of Defy Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm where she focused on supporting underrepresented founders and investing in data-driven applications. Her recent move to Apple occurred approximately 18 years after she initially declined an opportunity to work with the company's original iPod development team. Vassallo holds three degrees from Stanford University, including a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Science in ElectroMechanical Engineering, and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her professional background bridges foundational technical engineering expertise with extensive early-stage investment experience across the broader consumer and enterprise technology ecosystem.