Speaker Profile Thumbnail for Anna Maria Chávez

Former CEO of the National School Boards Association and the Girl Scouts of the USA & Chief Impact Officer and President, Encantos.org

Anna Maria Chávez Speaking Fee: $10,000 to $20,000

Former CEO of the National School Boards Association and the Girl Scouts of the USA & Chief Impact Officer and President, Encantos.org

Speaker Profile Thumbnail for Anna Maria Chávez
Speaking Fee:
$10,000 to $20,000

Travels From:
Contact Us For Primary Airport

Primary Topic Category:
Education

Secondary Topic Category:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) / Social Justice

 

Anna Maria Chávez Speaker Profile: At A Glance

As one of the world's top experts on women's leadership, youth development, and aging, Anna Maria Chávez is a dedicated advocate for helping others across every stage of life.

As one of the world's top experts on women's leadership, youth development, and aging, Anna Maria Chávez is a dedicated advocate for helping others across every stage of life. With 25 years of public service and non-profit leadership experience, Chávez is passionate about teaching the value of teamwork, inclusion and diversity, resiliency, strong leadership, and self-motivation. Her keen insights and dynamic presentations have inspired thousands of individuals and organizations to lead authentically, work more collaboratively, and create dynamic impact. Chávez was named one of FORTUNE’s World’s Greatest Leaders (2016) and honored as one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company (2014). In 2021, she was named one of the top 50 Over 50 Women leaders by Forbes Magazine. She has been inducted into the U.S. News & World Report’s STEM Leadership Hall of Fame. Recognized for her work supporting and empowering Hispanic communities, Chávez received the 2013 Excellence in Community Service Award from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, as well as the 2013 Graciela Olivarez La Raza Award from UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza). She also serves on the National Board of Directors for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. In April 2017, Chávez joined the National Council on Aging (NCOA), the nation’s oldest advocacy organization dedicated to helping Americans navigate the challenges of aging, as their chief strategy officer and senior vice president of external affairs. Less than a year later, she was promoted to NCOA's Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, where she was responsible for day-to-day operations and led the national team in advancing the organization’s mission to improve the health and economic security of 10 million older adults by 2020. Ultimately, she was appointed as NCOA’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. On June 1, 2020, Chávez became the Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and served as an ex-officio director on its Board of Directors. In July 2021, Encantos, a storyteaching platform connecting creators with kids to inspire them to learn 21st-century skills, appointed Chávez to the newly created position of Chief Impact Officer (CIO). As CIO, she develops, leads, and implements Encantos’ impact strategy and initiatives, including strategic partnerships, corporate and public affairs, and community impact activities. Additionally, Chávez became the President of Encantos.org, a new non-profit focused on advancing the importance of 21st-century learning, literacy, and life skills for children through research, programs, and fellowships. Chávez brings over 25 years of extensive experience in education, government, and non-profit organizational leadership and management, including growing businesses, building corporate and non-profit partnerships, and advocating for children and underserved populations with federal and state legislators. From 2011-16, Chávez was the first woman of color to lead the iconic Girl Scouts of the USA, where she helped modernize the 104-year-old institution through a historic girl-centric organizational redesign. She also emphasized teaching girls about technology and social entrepreneurship, introducing new badges in fields like financial literacy and STEM education. Chávez’s personal experiences growing up in rural Arizona fueled her passion for public service and social engagement, shaping her educational and career paths. These interests first brought her to Washington, D.C., where she held numerous posts in President Clinton’s administration, including senior policy advisor to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater and Small Business Administration Administrator Aida Alvarez. Chávez later returned to Arizona to serve as deputy chief of staff for urban relations and community development under Governor Janet Napolitano. In that role, she launched the governor’s Aging 2020 initiative and created the Arizona Division of Aging and Adult Services. Lauded for her leadership, Chávez received the 2013 Law College Association Award and a 2014 honorary Doctor of Laws degree from her law school alma mater, the University of Arizona. She has been recognized as one of the 100 Women Leaders in STEM by STEMconnector and was inducted into the U.S. News & World Report’s STEM Leadership Hall of Fame in 2016. Chávez has appeared on top national news outlets including CBS News, NBC’s The Today Show, FOX News Channel, CNBC, CNN, and NPR. She earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a juris doctorate at the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. Chávez has been admitted to the Bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
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