Maile Keone

CEO, Listen Technologies

MAILE KEONE is a successful technology executive, board member, venture capital investor and advisor, and entrepreneur with extensive experience taking technology innovations to market and scaling operations internationally to drive and accelerate profitable growth. With a proven reputation as a serial turnaround expert, she is adept at all aspects of global expansion including M&A, international supply chain, logistics, and talent management. Her deep understanding of financial and evaluation drivers, as well as decades of advising tech ventures through key developmental stages, uniquely qualifies Keone to serve as a nominating and governance committee member for technology industry boards.

Keone is currently the President and CEO of Listen Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge assistive audio and communication systems. Under her dynamic and visionary leadership, Keone fortified the company's market position by enhancing manufacturing operations in China and Korea, and spearheaded multiple successful mergers with domestic and international organizations. In an aggressive corporate turnaround to prepare the founder-led company for sale, she grew the company's top line while decreasing operating expenses, restructured sales, identified new market segments, and optimized supply chain. Her proactivity and exceptional ability to drive financial performance while fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration has grown the company by 22%, decreased operating expenses by 36%, and raised the EBITA by 150% in a mere two years. The company was successfully sold in 2023. Keone also currently serves on the board for Evac+Chair, the original manufacturer and global leader in emergency evacuation chairs for the mobility impaired. She was selected for her turnaround expertise, business optimization prowess, and her ability to mentor the company's new managing director.

Keone is also an LP with multiple venture capital firms and a board member for the Salt Lake City Angels. She is especially proficient at evaluating promising tech start-ups and has helped many companies, non-profits, and entrepreneurs raise money to rapidly scale growth and impact.

Keone began her career in sales and marketing and served in numerous roles at tech companies like Novell, WordPerfect, and Logitech (formerly WiLife). She was also the CMO and brand steward for VacationRoost, the largest online provider of professionally managed vacation rental properties during her tenure. Later as CRO at Listen Technologies, Keone increased revenue while decreasing sales and marketing cost by 50%. Through her global channel sales and marketing strategy, Keone launched multiple new product lines and opened new product channels which now represent 20% of the company's overall revenue. She also utilized her foundational experience in sales and marketing to found a digital marketing company, Lava 7, and fundraising company, Fashionable Fundraising Inc. Keone also serves on the board for Women Tech Council and the Hale Centre Theatre, and previously served on the boards for Kinect Capital (formerly venturecapital.org). She holds a Bachelor's of Arts in English from Brigham Young University, received the SBA Women in Business Champion Award, and is a member of the Forbes Communications Council.