Paula Skokowski trained as an engineer at Oxford and UC Berkeley before working in robotics and control systems, and she built her career by joining companies right at the first-product stage across security and identity firms like Yubico, Shape Security, Accellion/Kiteworks, and Incognia, with particular attention to balancing fraud prevention against user friction in authentication. She evaluates new technology by asking whether it will actually work and who will pay for it, points to simplicity in product design as key to fast growth, has helped connect Oxford-trained entrepreneurs in the Bay Area, and serves as a founding board member of FirstBoard.io to support more women in boardroom roles.