Leadership Journey

An accomplished entrepreneur, healthcare innovator and academic leader, Lily Sarafan serves as Chair of the Stanford University Board of Trustees, a position she assumed in July 2025.

“With intellectual rigor, optimism, irreverence and courage, we can meet today’s challenges while creating tomorrow’s possibilities. It’s the Stanford way,” Sarafan has said of her vision for leading the university. Her leadership philosophy combines strategic thinking with a deep commitment to advancing human flourishing through innovation, education and principled governance.

Sarafan co-founded TheKey 20 years ago and served as its CEO through 2020, taking it from startup to a company with more than 10,000 employees. Under her leadership, TheKey (formerly Home Care Assistance) became North America’s largest premium provider of in-home care for seniors and a recognized best-in-class home care company. She continues to support the organization’s strategic direction as Executive Chair, advancing the company’s mission to provide personalized, science-backed, compassionate home care.
Her entrepreneurial excellence has earned widespread recognition. Her accolades include being named to Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list of influential leaders and as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and Woman of the Year by Women Health Care Executives.

Sarafan’s commitment to Stanford extends beyond her Board Chair role. She has held numerous leadership roles at Stanford, including serving as co-chair of the Stanford Presidential Search Committee that led to the appointment of President Jon Levin. She was also co-chair of the Stanford Undergraduate Cabinet, vice chair of the Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI) Council, and active member of the LEAD Council. Sarafan is also a founding partner of Project BIG: The Stanford Brain Immune Gut Initiative, led by Jeffrey Dunn, the Lily Sarafan Director of Neuroimmunology and member of the university’s Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Council, helping to advise the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford Bio-X and Sarafan ChEM-H (Chemistry, Engineering and Medicine for Human Health).

Sarafan has contributed to a wide range of areas at the university, including a 2022 foundational gift to Sarafan ChEM-H, which accelerates transformative molecular research in benefit of human health. She also supports the Sarafan Fellows as part of the Chemistry/Biology Interface Training Program and contributes to FSI, the Stanford Democracy Hub, Ethics, Society and Technology Initiatives, the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford Impact Labs and Stanford Medicine.

In the corporate arena, Sarafan serves as a board director for several companies, including Instacart, Thumbtack, Serve Robotics and Kyo. She is an investor and advisor to more than 20 early-stage companies and funds, leveraging her expertise to guide emerging and established businesses. Her board experience spans both public and private companies, bringing valuable insights on scaling technology platforms and navigating complex market dynamics.

Sarafan’s influence extends to public service and policy. She is an appointed member of the California Governor’s Alzheimer’s Task Force, where she contributes to statewide initiatives addressing one of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time. She is also an advisory board member for Move for Minds at the Cleveland Clinic.