Taiya Smith

Taiya Smith is CEO and cofounder of Phylleos Inc., a cloud native information ecosystem designed to help corporate and government decisionmakers understand the implications of economic dynamics, policy changes, complex global supply chains, and climate change on their businesses. Previously, Smith managed the China Program at the Climate Leadership Council, focusing on the nexus of carbon pricing and trade, and was a consultant. As a managing partner at Garnet Strategies, she advised multinational companies, financial institutions, and trade associations on climate and energy policy, U.S.-China relations, geopolitical risk, and matters arising in global forums. She also served as an expert adviser to U.S. special envoy for climate change Todd Stern in the lead-up to the Paris Accord. In service to the U.S. government, Smith was deputy chief of staff and executive secretary to U.S. treasury secretary Hank Paulson. At the Treasury Department, Smith led the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED), a cabinet-level bilateral dialogue. She managed the U.S. negotiating team across seven government departments and established the U.S.-China Ten Year Framework on Energy and Environment Cooperation and the EcoPartnerships program, both of which served as the platform for U.S.-China cooperation on climate change across U.S. administrations. Prior to the Treasury Department, Smith served as special assistant to Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick advising on Africa, Europe, and political/military affairs. Taiya holds a BA from Wesleyan University and an MPP from the Kennedy School of Government.