Charlotte Beers is the former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Beers was Chair of J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, having returned to the very agency in which she started her advertising career. In addition, she was Chair and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather from 1992-1997. She is the only executive in the advertising industry to have served as Chair of two of the top 10 worldwide advertising agencies.

Ms. Beers has been a pioneer in almost every career step. Starting in Houston, Texas, she was the first female Product Manager for Uncle Ben’s Rice. She then became the first female Senior Vice President for J. Walter Thompson when she moved to the advertising business in Chicago in the 1970’s. In 1988, she was the first woman in the 99 years of the American Association of Advertising Agencies to be named Chairman.

Her achievements have been well recognized in the business community. In 1992, Glamour magazine recognized her as one of their "Women of the Year" for the distinction of "cracking the glass ceiling in advertising." In 1995 she received one of the Sara Lee Frontrunner Awards for being the only woman to head one of the nation’s top 10 advertising agencies. In 1997 she was on the cover of Fortune magazine featuring the most powerful women in America.

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