Cracking the Code
A Korean American Pioneer in Tech and Artificial Intelligence
Cracking the Code
A Korean American Pioneer in Tech and Artificial Intelligence
In this episode, venture investor and AI visionary Songyee Yoon shares insights from her career at the forefront of frontier technologies, strategic investing, and global innovation. Moderated by CKA Board members Lisa Yang and Catharina Min, the conversation explores her leadership in AI, her philosophy on “play” as a catalyst for creativity, and her role shaping the future of tech policy and ethics.
Cracking the Code:
A Korean American Pioneer in Tech and Artificial Intelligence
In this episode, venture investor and AI visionary Songyee Yoon shares insights from her career at the forefront of frontier technologies, strategic investing, and global innovation. Moderated by CKA Board members Lisa Yang and Catharina Min, the conversation explores her leadership in AI, her philosophy on “play” as a catalyst for creativity, and her role shaping the future of tech policy and ethics.
Songyee Yoon is the founder and managing partner of Principal Venture Partners (PVP), a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture firm focused on AI-native companies. Her early investment in iconic startups including Together.ai, Cartesia, and Sesame, earned her a reputation for identifying companies that will define the next generation of technological infrastructure. As president and chief strategy officer of NCSOFT, she led the company’s AI transformation and oversaw strategic investments and partnerships across North America and Asia.
In addition to her investing work, Songyee advises on the future of AI policy and ethics as a member of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI (HAI) advisory council and Harvard University’s Generative AI initiative. She is also a member of the MIT Corporation and a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and HP Inc. She served on the Presidential Advisory Council for Science and Technology in South Korea under two presidents. Songyee was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, elected to the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, and recognized among the Wall Street Journal’s 50 Women to Watch in Business. Her recent book, Push Play, explores how “play” acts as a driver of innovation across disciplines—from gaming to medicine to artificial intelligence.
Songyee Yoon is the founder and managing partner of Principal Venture Partners (PVP), a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture firm focused on AI-native companies. Her early investment in iconic startups including Together.ai, Cartesia, and Sesame, earned her a reputation for identifying companies that will define the next generation of technological infrastructure. As president and chief strategy officer of NCSOFT, she led the company’s AI transformation and oversaw strategic investments and partnerships across North America and Asia.
In addition to her investing work, Songyee advises on the future of AI policy and ethics as a member of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI (HAI) advisory council and Harvard University’s Generative AI initiative. She is also a member of the MIT Corporation and a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and HP Inc. She served on the Presidential Advisory Council for Science and Technology in South Korea under two presidents. Songyee was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, elected to the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, and recognized among the Wall Street Journal’s 50 Women to Watch in Business. Her recent book, Push Play, explores how “play” acts as a driver of innovation across disciplines—from gaming to medicine to artificial intelligence.