Maria S. Eitel

Maria Eitel "is president of the Nike Foundation and a vice president of Nike Inc. As president of the Nike Foundation, she works with key players in economic and social development to invest in poverty alleviation and achieve the foundation's objective of increasing opportunities for the world's most disadvantaged girls.

"Prior to becoming the foundation's first president, Ms. Eitel served as Nike Inc.'s first vice president for corporate responsibility. During her tenure, she saw Nike through the challenging global business environment of the late 1990s into the 21st century with the development and implementation of Nike's new mission and corporate responsibility agenda.

"Formerly, Ms. Eitel served as European corporate affairs group manager for Microsoft Corporation where she managed corporate, public and community affairs initiatives for the company's European headquarters and 24 European subsidiaries from Paris. Before joining Microsoft in 1995, Ms. Eitel served as director of public affairs for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and was senior manager of communications and community relations at MCI Communications Corp.

"From 1989 to 1992, Ms. Eitel served in the White House as deputy director of media relations and later as special assistant to the president for media affairs. She directed White House communications initiatives and programs, served as an official spokesperson for the president and managed Cabinet involvement in White House and communications initiatives. Her earlier career experience was as a reporter and producer in commercial and public broadcasting.

"She serves on the board of directors of the Safeco Corporation, the steering committee of the World Economic Forum Global Governance and Women's Initiatives, the board of directors of the Millennium Promise, and the board of trustees of the Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. Formerly, she served as a director of the operating board of the Global Alliance for Workers and Communities, a member of the National Academy of Sciences committee on monitoring international labor standards, and a member of the board of directors of Business for Social Responsibility, a business membership organization that promotes corporate social responsibility among global companies.

"Born and raised in Everett, Washington, Maria graduated with a BA from McGill University and an MS from Georgetown University. She attended the Stanford Executive Program at the Graduate School."

• Leadership Council, Initiative for Global Development
• Advisory Council, Acumen Fund