Currently leading HOLON AV commercialization at Benteler Mobility

Turning first-of-kind mobility tech into billion-dollar businesses.

Building ventures from 0 to 1 across autonomous vehicles (AVs), electrification, mobility, and Physical AI — for Fortune 500s and high-growth startups alike, inside some of the most highly regulated sectors in tech.

Portrait of Paula Bejarano
17+ Years
Technical & commercial roles
Deep Tech
Tesla, VW, NASA, Shell
3 Continents
International exposure
Published Author
Autonomousity
Career trajectory

Two decades, one throughline: frontier engineering, commercialized.

From space systems to self-driving fleets — click any role for the headline achievements.

  • Report directly to the Global CEO and led U.S. revenue growth, commercialization, marketing, and business operations.
  • Built $MM pipeline representing >1K vehicles; sourced strategic partnerships with transportation network companies including Lyft.
  • Oversaw cross-functional execution across product, operations, sales and regulatory teams (Europe/US).
  • Sourcing and backing early-stage startups as part of Hustle Fund's angel investing collective.
  • Led commercial strategy for a $1B autonomous truck program as the central interface between the ADS partner, enterprise logistics clients, and Traton global R&D.
  • Negotiated a 5-year Joint Development Agreement covering pricing, commercial terms, and KPIs.
  • Built GTM and Voice-of-Customer programs for 11 Tier-1 freight fleets, including Ryder and UPS.
  • Led a 10+ person EV charging strategy team spanning depot RFPs and new revenue streams.
  • Closed a $1M ARR contract with Rivian and a $30K MRR EV rideshare deal servicing 100 Tesla Model Ys in NYC.
  • Led a 5-person team across lead generation, opportunity development, and customer success.
  • Supported the launch of Goodyear's $100M corporate venture capital fund.
  • Independent Consultant (Jul–Dec 2019) — advised an e-fleet load-balancing startup on GTM, and an in-vehicle expression-recognition startup on product roadmap and fundraising.
  • Business Operations Manager, The Mobility House (Jan–Jun 2019) — owned the BD function for a fleet-electrification SaaS platform; built and led a 3-person team.
  • Investment Associate, Hemi Ventures (Jul–Oct 2018) — delivered due diligence informing six Investment Committee decisions.
  • Deal Flow Analyst, Kluz Ventures — sourced 50+ early-stage startups, advancing 5+ to due diligence.
  • Investment Team Analyst, NextGen Venture Partners — built investment hypotheses across four verticals for senior leadership.
  • Finance Analyst, 1776 Ventures — tracked KPIs for 35 seed-stage portfolio companies.
  • Led sourcing for the battery-charging system of Autonomous Guided Vehicles in General Assembly, cutting contract pricing 20%.
  • Supported Autopilot and robotics teams installing computer-vision cameras on the Model 3 line.
  • Technical Program Manager, Royal Dutch Shell (2010–2016) — managed a $11M capex offshore hardware lifecycle, leading engineering teams of 5–15 across Norway, the UK, and the Netherlands.
  • Space Satellite Systems Engineer, TNO (2008–2010) — European Space Agency Contracts; performance-tested high-precision optical systems for the GAIA satellite, launched in 2013.
  • Human Space Flight Program Co-op, NASA (2004–2005) — improved manufacturing for the Space Shuttle's thermal protection system.
Literary & thought leadership

The playbook for who wins the race to self-driving.

Autonomousity book cover — Paula A. Bejarano

Autonomousity

Autonomous Vehicles and Emerging Business Models
Published May 2019 272 pages ★ 4.5 / 5 Goodreads

Examines the competitive dynamics reshaping the self-driving ecosystem — why traditional automakers are rebranding as mobility companies, how startups are chasing alternative revenue models, and who is positioned to launch robo-taxi and autonomous freight services first. Written for mobility founders, product leaders, OEM executives, and regulators sizing up commercialization in autonomous vehicles.

Selected writing

Notes from the road to autonomy.

Ongoing essays on Medium tracking the self-driving ecosystem.

Stage & speaking

On the record about where mobility is headed.

Upcoming Aug 26–27, 2026 · Anaheim, CA

Autonomous Vehicles & AI USA 2026

Speaking on commercializing turnkey autonomous fleet solutions for the mobility sector.

AV CommercializationFleet Strategy
Speaker profile
PanelFeb 2026

Cities of Tomorrow: Reimagining Urban Life

Georgetown McDonough's Steers Center — panelist on autonomous electric mobility and first/last-mile transit.

Urban Mobility
Read recap
Podcast · Ep. 52Jul 2022

The Future of Autonomous Trucking

Before It Happened — on why nobody has driven this road before.

Autonomous Freight
Listen
Member profileFeb 2025

YPT-NYC Spotlight

Young Professionals in Transportation on her path from aerospace to autonomous mobility.

Career Journey
Read
AttendingSep 20–27, 2026

Climate Week NYC 2026

Joining New York's flagship climate platform, held alongside the UN General Assembly.

Climate & Policy
Event details

Education

MBA, Entrepreneurship Concentration
Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business
May 2018 · President, LABA · AV consultancy for CIC, Beijing
MS, Mechanical Engineering
Northeastern University
May 2007
BS, Aerospace Engineering
University of Central Florida
May 2005

Volunteering

Mentor Coach
America Needs You (ANY) — nonprofit supporting first-generation college students with career-development mentorship
May 2024 — Present
Volunteer with ANY
Contact

Get in touch.

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