Early Life and Education
Laurene Powell Jobs was born on November 6, 1963, in West Milford, New Jersey. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985. She later received an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1991.
Rise to Success
Before attending business school, Powell Jobs worked at Merrill Lynch Asset Management and Goldman Sachs. After completing her MBA, she co-founded Terravera, a natural foods company. In 2011, she founded the Emerson Collective, which invests in entrepreneurs and innovators working on education, immigration reform, media, journalism, and conservation.
Key Business Strategies
Through the Emerson Collective, Powell Jobs has adopted a unique approach that combines venture capital investments with philanthropic efforts. The organization focuses on supporting initiatives in education, environmental sustainability, and social justice. This strategy allows her to support innovative solutions and drive social change.
Philanthropy
Laurene Powell Jobs is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors. In 1997, she co-founded College Track, a non-profit organization focused on improving high school graduation, college enrollment, and college graduation rates for students from under-resourced communities. She also founded the Waverley Street Foundation, a climate-focused organization with a $3.5 billion commitment over 10 years. Moreover, she is the co-founder and board chair of the XQ Institute, which aims to transform American high schools.
