Reddit, from YC’s original batch in 2005, has recently hired startup investor Ellen Pao.  According to the announcement, the past few months have been a time of unprecedented growth for reddit.  Ms. Pao’s role at the company involves managing strategic partnerships that benefit the community.  She’s previously served as an advisor to reddit.

Ellen Pao seems a perfect fit for this new role.  She’s a long-time reddit user.  In her own words:

“I grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, raised by enginerds on Star Wars, computers and books. I live in San Francisco, via New York City, Boston and Hong Kong. I’ve worked with dozens of tech companies, traveling to eleven countries on five continents, to help build a variety of consumer and business platform companies. My favorite subreddits are /r/IAmA and /r/pareidolia (I like people even when they’re not real). Being part of a community of people who care is inspiring and energizing. reddit has so much to offer so many people, and I’m excited to find partners to help make reddit even more awesome.”

Before joining reddit, Ellen Pao was a partner at top-tier venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers.  She’s worked at BEA Systems, Tellme Networks, and Microsoft.  Ms. Pao has also served as a corporate attorney on various international deals.  Her formal education consists of a BS in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.