Carla Thompson
CEO and Founder, Sharp Skirts
Tech Startups Guru
A veteran of the emerging tech industry, Carla Thompson has counseled startups around the globe on creating, launching, and sustaining smart businesses. With Sharp Skirts, Carla is working to create a self-sustaining network for women entrepreneurs at every level. She also consults independently with select women-owned startups on business strategy and continues to keep a finger on the pulse of emerging tech as a member of Guidewire Group’s Affiliate Analyst program. In her previous role as VP of Community Strategy & Engagement at Guidewire Group, Carla provided advisory services and strategic counsel to startups and helmed the company’s community initiatives, overseeing marketing and social media strategy. She also assisted Executive Producer Chris Shipley in screening and selecting demonstrators for the renowned DEMO conference.
She previously founded MC2 Communications and served as senior account executive at Ketchum Silicon Valley. In her work in communications and PR, Carla counseled companies such as Visa, Intuit, and Chase Capital Partners, and was publicist for Linus Torvalds, inventor of the Linux operating system. She currently serves on the advisory board of SXSW Interactive’s Accelerator program, MakeMeSustainable, and the Semantic Technology conference and as a mentor in the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce’s Apprentice Austin program.
