Ms. Suzanne Basalla

Suzanne Basalla is a Partner at Geodesic Capital. 

Prior to joining Geodesic, she served as President and CEO of the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), an educational non-profit dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-Japan relationship through people-to-people ties. The Council’s priority initiatives include the public-private TOMODACHI Initiative, established after the Great East Japan Earthquake; the Silicon Valley Japan Platform (SVJP), and a bilateral Climate & Sustainability Initiative. 

Prior to assuming the leadership of USJC, Suzanne served as Chief of Staff at the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), a Silicon Valley-headquartered subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation developing automated driving, robotics, and other human amplification technology for Toyota.

Suzanne is a former Naval officer and her assignments included duties in Japan, the Pentagon, and Diego Garcia. Following her naval career, she was the Director for Japan in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington, DC. She subsequently was appointed Senior Advisor to John Roos, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, from 2010-2012.

Suzanne graduated from the University of Virginia and received a master’s degree from George Washington University. She spent two years at Keio University as an Olmsted Scholar. She is a recipient of the inaugural Ryozo Kato Award for service to the U.S.-Japan Alliance, the Nakasone Yasuhiro Award of Excellence, and the Eagle on the World from JCCI.

Suzanne serves on the board of NTT Data, Inc. and as an advisor to Central Japan Railway Company. She also volunteers as a Board member of the Japan Society of Northern California and Special Advisor to Career Girls and remains an active member of the U.S.-Japan Council. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation. She also enjoys reading and discussing books with others.