Matsui Center Advisory Committee: 2025
Janou Gordon is the Director of Business Operations and Government Affairs at Lightspeed Venture Partners, where she helps shape the firm’s engagement at the intersection of innovation and public policy. Previously, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the CEO at the Obama Foundation, and served several roles in the Obama Administration, including White House Office of Political Strategy and Operations, White House Legislative Affairs, and Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Department of the Interior. Janou began her career as a Robert T. Matsui Fellow for then–House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and later worked at the UC Washington Center, helping students pursue careers in government and public service. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from UCLA and her M.A. in American Government from Georgetown University. She remains deeply committed to encouraging young people to explore and build careers in public service.
