Women's Leadership Board

Comprised of women from the most senior levels of government, business, professions, and the non-profit sector across the globe, members of the Women’s Leadership Board serve as key supporters and advisers to Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP), a global leader in groundbreaking gender research, teaching, training and outreach. WAPPP asks what we can do to create gender equality and improve the lives of women and men around the world. WAPPP focuses on rigorous, high-impact research, teaching and outreach on how to close gender gaps in economic opportunity, political participation, health and education through public policy, organizational practices and leadership.

Women’s Leadership Board Charge

WLB members’ counsel and leadership inspires the work of WAPPP, and in turn, the members benefit from close engagement with scholars, policy advisors and thought leaders who share a commitment to gender equality and improving the lives of women and men around the world. WLB members serve as global ambassadors of and advocates for the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) and the Women and Public Policy Program. Members are empowered to advance women in society through the knowledge created by WAPPP as well as from the access to leading scholars and decision makers provided by WAPPP, HKS and the broader Harvard community. Members are committed to being effective communicators and promoters of the research findings of WAPPP to maximize their impact throughout the world.

Meetings

The Women and Public Policy Program hosts the WLB for bi-annual meetings on the Harvard campus in Cambridge. These meetings provide access to cutting-edge research findings, policy briefings and the expertise of prominent guest speakers, as well as discussion and debate between members and the visiting speakers.

Membership & Support

Individual members (Member Directory) are nominated for membership, reviewed and invited based on professional accomplishments and demonstrated leadership. Corporate members are selected for membership based on demonstrated commitment to women and girls and gender equality. All members have a shared commitment to philanthropically supporting the vision, mission, and success of the Women and Public Policy Program.

Board members provide a minimum annual gift of $10,000 per individual and $25,000 per corporation. These resources provide the Women and Public Policy Program with the foundational support needed to close gender gaps across the globe through impactful research, teaching and outreach.

Board members are asked to:

• Support WAPPP and engage with the program in the areas of research, teaching, training and outreach.
• Using their experience and expertise, serve as an effective communicator and promoter of the gender research created by WAPPP. Promote the work of Harvard Kennedy School faculty to help advance the overall role of women in society.
• Participate in WLB meetings, as well as other WAPPP events and Harvard Kennedy School events.
• Support the next generation of women leaders. Work with WAPPP to support research, fellowships, and internships.

WLB Chair

Francine LeFrak, President, LeFrak Productions

WAPPP Leadership

Dean Iris Bohnet, Professor of Public Policy and the Academic Dean at the Harvard Kennedy School, serves as Director of the Women and Public Policy Program more >

Victoria A. Budson, founding Executive Director of the Women and Public Policy Program more >

Photos

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls with Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee Family Foundation and WLB member, and Victoria A. Budson, Executive Director of WAPPP. Spring 2012 meeting pictures >

WLB members with Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women and students. Spring 2011 meeting pictures >