Chair, Sobrato Owners Council; Board Chair, Sobrato Family Foundation

Lisa Sobrato Sonsini is an accomplished philanthropist and community leader who has helped shape the philanthropic landscape of Silicon Valley for over 30 years. Lisa began her professional journey in corporate and securities law, advising startups during the early years of the region’s technology boom. In the mid 1990s, Lisa created the Sobrato Family Foundation, a unifying platform for her family’s philanthropic efforts across multiple generations. Under her leadership, the foundation has grown into one of the largest philanthropies in the United States, partnering with communities to meet urgent needs, dismantle systemic barriers, and pursue long-term social justice. Sobrato Philanthropies is part of The Sobrato Organization, a multi-generational family enterprise that has played a central role in the economic and social fabric of Silicon Valley for nearly 70 years. Lisa currently serves as Board Chair of The Sobrato Family Foundation, Chair of The Sobrato Organization’s Owners Council, and as a member of its Governance Board, helping guide the integration of the family’s real estate, investment, and philanthropic assets for maximum impact.

Extending her vision beyond traditional philanthropy, Lisa co-founded Ravello Impact with her husband, Matt Sonsini. Ravello Impact is a social impact and investment collaborative that supports values-driven innovation and social entrepreneurship to create positive change. One of its flagship efforts is Academic Innovation Catalyst (AIC) and its operational venture studio centerpiece, the Advanced Technologies Entrepreneurship Center (ATEC) at UC Berkeley, which partners with top-tier research institutions to provide academic innovators with hands-on business, legal, talent, and investor support. Ravello Impact also engages in local urban renewal, reflecting Matt and Lisa’s belief in the power of place and infrastructure to drive opportunity and equity. Lisa serves on the boards of KQED, SEAL, and Silicon Schools, and is a devoted advocate for disadvantaged youth, particularly those navigating the educational and foster care systems. She received her BA from UCLA and JD from Berkeley Law.