In this episode of The Leadership Chronicles, SecretaryElaine Chao shares her inspiring journey from immigrant roots to becoming the first Asian Pacific American woman to serve in the U.S. President's cabinet.
This inspiring conversation is filled with wisdom, resilience, and forward-looking advice for today’s leaders as we explore:
Curiosity leads to opportunities. “Never give up. Thereare so many exciting things happening in this world – just never give up”.
Please visit her website and her family’s story at Harvard Business School.
Hosted by: Sherri Sklar, MBA’89 and Sarah Alter, MBA’95ABOUT
Secretary Chao is the first Asian-Pacific American woman to serve in the President's cabinet in American history. She has been confirmed to two cabinet positions by the United States Senate on a strong bipartisan basis: U. S. Secretary of Labor and U. S. Secretary of Transportation. She is also the longest serving Cabinet Secretary since World War II.
At the U. S. Department of Transportation, Secretary Chaofocused on keeping America’s transportation system safe and efficient; invested over $300 billion in infrastructure over three and a half years; and, engaged with new technologies including autonomous vehicles, drones, and commercial space launches to build the transportation system of the future. During the COVID-19 health crisis, Secretary Chao’s decisive actions kept America’s transportation networks safe and moving.
As U.S. Secretary of Labor, Secretary Chao focused onincreasing the competitiveness of the American workforce in a global economy. She set new records for workplace safety and health and ensured the retirement security of 44 millionretirees by spearheading the passage of the most significant pension legislation in 30 years, the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
Prior to becoming U. S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao wasPresident and CEO of United Way, where she restored public trust by reforming the governance structure and instilling a new culture of accountability and transparency after the organization had been tarnished by previous financialmismanagement and abuse.
Elaine Chao also served as head of the Peace Corps, whereshe launched programs in the newly liberated Baltic nations and former Soviet Union, including Ukraine. She began herpublic service working on transportation and trade issues at the White House. She was promoted in rapid succession to Deputy Maritime Administrator, U. S. Department of Transportation; Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission; and Deputy Secretary,U.S. Department of Transportation. In the private sector, Elaine worked as Vice President of Syndications at Bank of America and Citicorp.
Elaine has been a director on numerous public boards whileout of government including News Corp, HCA Healthcare, Ingersoll Rand, Wells Fargo, Protective Life, Dole Food Company and NASD. She currently serves on the boards of Krogerand technology companies in the mobility space. She has also been a director and trustee on many nonprofit boards including Harvard Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors, Harvard Business School Global Advisory Board, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, United Way Worldwide, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee of Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28), and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Advisory Board.
Born in Taiwan, she immigrated to America at the age of 8not speaking English and received her citizenship at age 19. Elaine earned her undergraduate degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College, and her MBA from Harvard BusinessSchool. She is the recipient of 38 honorary degrees.