Betsy Conway
Lowe's Foundation
Washington, DC USA
"It's the small wins and thinking about one step at a time."
Career Roadmap
Betsy's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Business, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
This is something I deal with in my work as we raise funds to help people going into skilled trades careers. It's long been the standard that students need to go straight to college, while excluding any other pathways. There's also a stigma surrounding skilled trades—they're dirty jobs and you don't get paid well. In reality, the opposite is true. Often people in skilled trades have higher job satisfaction, there's great demand and opportunity, and many skilled trades are highly lucrative.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Journalism
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduate Degree
Integrated Marketing Communications
Northwestern University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Growing up, I was inspired by my mom’s commitment to community service, which planted the seed for my own passion to give back.
2.
In high school, I got involved in youth boards and community service projects, solidifying my interest in social service.
3.
I pursued journalism in college, but after graduating, I found my calling working at the United Way, helping people find meaningful volunteer opportunities.
4.
My experience working with nonprofits helped me connect with the community and understand the importance of building relationships.
5.
I transitioned into the corporate world with Duke Energy, working in communications, where my role evolved into managing corporate social responsibility initiatives.
6.
Taking a leap, I moved into foundation work, helping corporations leverage their resources to make a bigger impact in the community.
7.
Now, as Director of the Lowe’s Foundation, I help oversee a $50 million initiative to train 50,000 individuals for careers in the skilled trades.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You need to go straight into a traditional college pathway after college.
How I responded:
This is something I deal with in my work as we raise funds to help people going into skilled trades careers. It's long been the standard that students need to go straight to college, while excluding any other pathways. There's also a stigma surrounding skilled trades—they're dirty jobs and you don't get paid well. In reality, the opposite is true. Often people in skilled trades have higher job satisfaction, there's great demand and opportunity, and many skilled trades are highly lucrative.