Laurene Powell Jobs is founder and president of Emerson Collective. In pursuit of a more equal and just world, Emerson Collective deploys impact investing, philanthropy, and advocacy to accelerate progress in critical areas, including education, immigration, and climate.
Laurene’s commitment to renewing America’s calcified social systems deepened over two decades ago with her work in education. In 1997, she founded College Track, a college completion program where she remains board chair, to address the alarming opportunity and achievement gaps among students. She is also cofounder and board chair of The XQ Institute, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to transforming the American high school. In keeping with her belief in supporting journalism as a vital civic institution, Laurene is owner and board chair of The Atlantic.
Laurene serves on the Stanford University Board of Trustees and the boards of Chicago CRED, The Council on Foreign Relations, The Ford Foundation, and Elemental Excelerator, where she is board chair. In addition, she is a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a recipient of Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Ernest C. Arbuckle Award for managerial excellence and addressing the changing needs of society.
Laurene earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences and a B.S. in economics from The Wharton School. After graduating from Penn, she worked at Goldman Sachs before earning an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
