Paula Davis is Founder and CEO of In Real Life Ventures LLC, a startup that creates media and technology literacy programs and experiences to empower and inspire kids to do more dreaming and less streaming - to be smarter, be present and be together in real life. Prior to launching her company, Paula spent more than 30 years as a senior communications and general management executive for Fortune 500 companies and startups with an expertise in developing strategies and partnerships to drive organizational, reputational and industry transformation.

From 2018 to 2024, Paula was chief Communications Officer of Colgate-Palmolive Company where she oversaw all external and internal communications, corporate branding and corporate social responsibility. Before that, she served as SVP of Corporate Affairs and Communications and Chief of Staff to the CEO of Harman International, an automotive and audio technology company acquired by Samsung in 2016. Prior to Harman, Paula was the President of Alcoa Foundation, one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S. focused on environmental sustainability and workforce development. She also served in leadership roles at PepsiCo, Siemens AG, Sears, Roebuck and Co., and MVP.com, a consumer e-commerce venture founded by Michael Jordan, John Elway and Wayne Gretzky.

Paula is deeply committed to improving mental health outcomes for young people and promoting workforce development. She serves on the Board of Directors of the REACH Institute, which provides evidence-based training to diagnose and treat mental health issues, and is on the advisory board of the Jed Foundation which works with secondary schools and universities to prevent teen suicide. Paula also is a Girl Scout troop leader and girls basketball coach.

In the area of workforce development, Paula serves as an advisor to Guild, a startup that helps Fortune 1000 companies produce strategic talent advantages in retention, mobility, and diversity, and she is a mentor and Board member of American Corporate Partners, which coordinates mentorships for U.S. veterans and their spouses with corporate executives to help them transition to civilian careers.

Paula holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology from the University of Michigan.