Episode 13: Conversation with Elinor Yakobson - Defense & Cyber Cluster Manager

Episode 13: Conversation with Elinor Yakobson - Defense & Cyber Cluster Manager

From Autonomous by UAXVC

March 11, 2026 · 1h 15m · Season 1 · Episode 13

About this episode

Elinor Yakobson discusses leadership in defense tech and the challenges faced by women in the industry.

In this episode, we sit down with Elinor Yakobson, a specialist in defense tech, dual-use innovation, cyber, and homeland security, for a candid conversation on what it really means to lead in one of the world's most demanding industries. In this conversation, we explore: - What it's like to be a woman in a field where women are rarely in the room - Israel's high-tech defense ecosystem - home to over 1,200 companies, roughly 600 in cyber and 600 in military, homeland security, and related fields with a significant concentration in drones and UAVs - What it takes to bridge government, venture capital, and startups in high-impact fields - Translating national security priorities into actionable innovation strategies - Building policy frameworks and public-private partnerships that actually move the needle - Where dual-use technology is heading and who gets to shape that future This episode is not about surviving in Men's world. It's about redefining it.

People in this episode

Guest: Elinor Yakobson

Topics covered

  • defense technology
  • cybersecurity
  • women in tech
  • dual-use innovation
  • public-private partnerships
  • national security

Keywords

  • defense tech
  • cyber
  • homeland security
  • innovation strategies
  • drones
  • UAVs
  • venture capital

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Israel's high-tech defense ecosystem

Places: Israel

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