Suzanne Basalla is a Partner at Geodesic Capital, where she works on the Geodesic Alliance Fund, an early-stage venture fund focused on backing transformative technology companies and strengthening innovation collaboration among the United States and its allies, particularly Japan. Her work sits at the intersection of venture capital, geopolitics, and emerging technology, drawing on decades of leadership across government, industry, and nonprofit sectors.

Previously, Suzanne served as President & CEO of the U.S.-Japan Council, where she advanced flagship initiatives including the TOMODACHI Initiative and the Silicon Valley Japan Platform, deepening people-to-people and technology ties between the two countries. Earlier in her career, she was Chief of Staff at Toyota Research Institute and a Naval officer, with assignments in Japan, the Pentagon, and Diego Garcia. Following her naval service, she was Director for Japan in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington, DC, and later served as Senior Advisor to John Roos, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, from 2010 to 2012.

Suzanne serves as Chair of the Board for the Japan Society of Northern California. She advises JR Central Railways and holds advisory roles with several non-profits, including the U.S.-Japan Council, the UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies, and Career Girls. She previously served as an Outside Director on the board of NTT Data, Inc., and as Vice Chair of the National Association of Japan-America Societies.

Suzanne holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from George Washington University. She also studied at the Naval War College and 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 New York.