Celeste Watkins is a first-year MBA student at the Yale School of Management, and a strategy and operations professional.  She is currently an Associate for the Roberts Innovation Fund in Yale Ventures, where she is involved with due diligence and strategic support for faculty-led projects with the potential for commercialization and impact.  Prior to joining Yale Ventures, Celeste was a member of the program management team at Charles River Analytics where she led immersive experiences in the SBIR/STTR application and funding cycle.  She started her career in the project management office of the flagship U.S. branch of China's CRRC MA: the world's largest railcar manufacturer.   

Celeste holds a B.S. in Biology/Biological Sciences and Chinese Area Studies from Franklin & Marshall College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.  Celeste is also an active member of the Yale community and serves as an Admission Guide, a first-year General Management club leader, and participates in the Tech & Society Outreach Committee and the Student Government Community Service Co-Chair.