Leila Aridi Afas
Vice President, Global Public Policy and Strategy
Toyota Motor North America

Ms. Afas is a global policy strategist who advises senior leadership on the geopolitical and macroeconomic forces reshaping the auto industry.

Known for translating policy complexity into actionable strategy, she drives forward-looking approaches that anticipate disruption, mitigate risk and capture opportunities.  Ms. Afas leads cross‑functional, cross‑cultural teams to align government affairs with core business priorities across key markets and inform high-stakes decisions.

Appointed by President Obama to help double U.S. exports and strengthen American manufacturing after the 2008 financial crisis, she built public-private partnerships to deploy U.S. goods and services in emerging markets.  She also managed a multimillion‑dollar portfolio of infrastructure projects across the Middle East and North Africa during the George W. Bush Administration.

Her experience spans the public and private sectors, including the World Economic Forum, U.K. House of Commons, Grant Thornton, and Bank of America Private Bank.  Ms. Afas holds a master’s degree in international economics from Columbia University and a B.A. (Hons) in English and Political Science from James Madison University. She is a recognized voice on global trade, geopolitics, and economic policy.