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Barbara Gault
Barbara Gault
01:10

Barbara Gault

Institute for Women's Policy Research

Austin, TX USA

"Be willing to jump out of the plane, even though you’re scared to death and don’t have confidence in yourself. Just keep getting up and trying it again."

Career Roadmap

Barbara's work combines: Politics, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

Executive Vice President

I do research on education and employment issues affecting women to inform policies and programs.

My Day to Day

I do internet research, write, prepare presentations, and talk with others to gather information.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

Create a community that supports you and shares your values.

Here's the path I took:

  • Some High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Psychology, General

    University of Michigan

  • Graduate Degree

    Psychology, General

    University of Pennsylvania

  • Doctorate

    Psychology, General

    University of Pennsylvania

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Executive Vice President:

Bachelor's Degree: Sociology, General

Graduate Degree: Sociology, General

Doctorate: Sociology, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    After dropping out of high school when I was 16, I went to a community college and transferred schools a couple times before earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Michigan.

  • 2.

    While studying primatology in graduate school, I went to Uganda to study chimps—it was fun, but I realized I was more interested in human issues, so I switched my major to social psychology.

  • 3.

    I earned my Ph.D. and wrote my dissertation on political attitudes around social issues like welfare reform and criminal justice—I realized I wanted to apply my research skills to change policy.

  • 4.

    I started working in public policy to advocate for assistance for low-income mothers.

  • 5.

    I joined the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and worked hard to move up through various leadership positions.

  • 6.

    Once I became a mother myself, I realized that parenthood is essentially a second full-time job and I had to change a lot of my work habits.

  • 7.

    After working my way up to the executive vice president position at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, my goal now is to start and lead my own research and policy business.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Friends:

    Spending time in a doctoral program is a waste of time and a way to avoid work.

  • How I responded:

    Create a community that supports you and shares your values.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • It took a while for me to come to terms with the fact that I was struggling with my mental health. It got better once I had accepted it.

  • There was a lot of family and home stress going on when I was younger. I ended up dropping out of high school because of those issues. However, I did go to college and eventually even got a Ph.D.