Madeline Trudeau Kawanaka is a strategist and builder dedicated to modernizing Louisiana’s legacy industries through frontier technology. As the Director of Innovation Programs for LA.IO, she bridges the gap between emerging tech and the state’s traditional industrial engines.

Madeline specializes in launching pilot projects and sandboxes that allow “world-changing” technologies–including humanoid robotics, autonomous systems, and embodied AI–to be tested and scaled at speed. By creating the frameworks necessary for these advancements to thrive, she ensures the state remains a proving ground for the next generation of innovation.

Before her leadership at LA.IO, Madeline spent years at the intersection of creativity and technology, managing global animation talent acquisition for film and commercials. This background in media production allows her to approach complex technical problems with a human-centric lens. Whether facilitating landmark partnerships for humanoid robotics or connecting founders with the venture funding needed to scale, Madeline is focused on one goal: making Louisiana a premier destination for disruptive innovation.

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