Aerica Banks is on the patent strategy team in Google’s DC office. In this capacity she monitors the legislative and legal patent landscape and integrates diversity initiatives into Google’s patent strategy. She leads Google’s sponsorship of BEACON, the campaign to make Washington, DC the most supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in the United States. She is the COO of the Asian Google Network, Co-lead for the DC chapter of the Black Google Network, and acts as liaison to the black small business community for the DC region. She was named a 2017 Tech Titan by Washingtonian Magazine and joined the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Social Entrepreneurs.

Previously, she was a political appointee in the Obama Administration, worked in government relations for The Pew Charitable Trusts, and advanced environmental justice policies in Washington state. She holds a MSc in Environmental Policy from Oxford University and a BA in Environmental Studies and Public Affairs from Seattle University. She sits on the advisory boards of TechWeekDC, Project 500, and Black Girl Ventures.