Beth F. Cobert is the former President of the Markle Foundation. In this role, she led Markle Foundation’s Rework America Alliance – a unique partnership of nonprofits, private sector employers, labor unions, and educators working to open opportunities for people from low-wage roles to move into good jobs with opportunities for career advancement. The focus of the Alliance is to provide help for people who have built capabilities through experience, but do not have a bachelor’s degree – particularly people of color and others facing systemic barriers in the labor market.
Beth has extensive experience in talent management and partnership development, and she harnesses the constructive potential of new technologies. Prior to joining Markle, she honed her leadership skills as Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under President Obama. Before her time at OPM, Beth served as the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget.
Beth began her career at McKinsey & Company, where she became a Senior Partner, and worked with clients across a range of sectors, including financial services, healthcare, real estate, telecommunications, and philanthropy. She is a fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration. She also is a member of the Board of Directors of CBRE Group, Inc., and serves on the Princeton University Board of Trustees. Beth received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and a master’s in business administration from Stanford University.