Valerie's Expertise

Valerie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Barack Obama Foundation and a Senior Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward. Valerie sits on the boards of Ralph Lauren Corporation, Sweetgreen, Inc. and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. She also serves as board chair of Civic Nation, member of the founder’s circle of the Innocence Project, emeritus trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, board member of the Sesame Street Workshop and advisory board member of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women, which is a $10 billion investment commitment with $100 million in philanthropic capital to drive economic opportunity for one million Black women by 2030. Additionally, Valerie is a senior advisor to ATTN:, a Los Angeles-based media firm. She was the longest-serving Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and championed the creation of equality and opportunity for all Americans as she oversaw the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls. Valerie has a background in both the public and private sectors, having served as the chief executive officer of The Habitat Company in Chicago, commissioner of planning and development and deputy chief of staff for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. She has also served as the director of numerous other boards, including chair of the Chicago Stock Exchange, chair of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board, vice chair of the University of Chicago board of trustees, director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and chair of Chicago Transit Board. She received her BA from Stanford University and earned her JD from the University of Michigan Law School.