Betsy Myers is the founding director of the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University. Betsy also speaks and leads corporate workshops around the world on the changing nature of leadership and women's leadership, work that continues in her role with the center. Previously, Betsy was a senior adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, as COO and as chair of Women for Obama.
In May 2011, Betsy was appointed Founding Director of the Center for Women & Business at Bentley University. The Center is a repository of best practices for corporate America to recruit and retain women leaders. Betsy will work to build relationships with corporations and share information about putting these practices into place. Visit the Center for Women and Business website for more details on Betsy’s work at Bentley.
In 2003, Betsy served as Executive Director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. During her tenure, Betsy focused the Center’s teaching and research around authentic inner leadership. The results and impact were immediate and staggering. A strategic educational partnership between Harvard and The Hoffman Institute was developed which continues today. She also increased the Center’s efforts around women and leadership while working closely with the Harvard’s Women’s Leadership Board (2000-2007).
Betsy and President ClintonAs senior official in the Clinton Administration, she was the President’s senior adviser on women’s issues. As Deputy Assistant to the President, she launched and was the first Director of the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach. She played a critical role in Clinton’s re-election effort in 1996 and figured prominently in shaping the Administration’s legislative agenda on issues such as domestic violence, reproductive choice, breast cancer and women in business.
Betsy also served as the Associate Deputy Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development in the U.S. Small Business Administration. She implemented the SBA’s national requirements under President Clinton’s Welfare to Work Initiative and was responsible for the agency’s technical assistance, management, and distance learning programs. In a previous post, she served as the Director of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership at the SBA where she was an advocate for the 7.8 million women entrepreneurs in our country. Currently, Betsy serves on the Council of National Advisors of Springboard Enterprises, a national not-for-profit organization that educates, coaches and supports high growth women-led businesses that are seeking venture capital for expansion.
Her book, Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You, which was released Fall 2011. Drawing on her experiences from the Oval Office to the playground, Myers reveals that good leadership is not about having the most knowledge or power but about how you make others feel.
Prior to joining the Clinton Administration, Myers spent six years building Myers Insurance & Financial Services based in Los Angeles. She specialized in the small business and the women’s market providing insurance and retirement planning.
A Public Service Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, Betsy graduated with a Masters in Public Administration, and then served as the School’s Director of Alumni Programs & External Relations before her role at the Center for Public Leadership.
“Betsy’s wealth of leadership experience combined with her authentic, vulnerable delivery was extremely impactful to our leaders at Southwest Airlines. She has an uncanny ability to connect with her audience through real life examples of success and struggles. Betsy is a tremendous talent her impact has been felt throughout our leadership team.”
“Betsy’s leadership principles set a global standard. They can be applied to any individual at all levels in an organization. She immediately engages, excites and encourages her audience to apply the lessons learned. It was an honor to share in her message.”
“Thank you for being an outstanding guest, for letting your brilliance and experience shine, and for positively impacting the lives of our listeners. You are a gem!”
“It was our honor to work with Betsy. She is a remarkable and outstanding speaker and thinker. She really cares about people from the bottom of her heart and thus we believe she has the power to change the world!”