The Honorable Elaine L. Chao

The first Asian American woman to be appointed to the President's Cabinet in U.S. history, Elaine Chao is an authority on global competitiveness, crisis management, diversity at the workplace, and transformational leadership. Known for her extensive and visionary achievements as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Secretary of Labor, President & CEO of United Way of America, Director of the Peace Corps, and as a corporate board member on a number of Fortune 100 companies, Elaine Chao offers rare insights into the future of our country’s infrastructure, the changing dynamics of the 21st century workforce, and the overarching business challenges of the U.S. and around the world. Arriving as an immigrant to the United States at the age of 8, she received her citizenship at the age of 19, on her way to a Harvard MBA and trifecta of successes in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Based on her distinguished and varied career, Secretary Chao speaks to the impact that current events and major economic trends have on organizations around the world. Candid and thoughtful, she provides audiences with strategies to enhance their organization's effectiveness as she draws from her unique perspectives and experiences. Fluent in diplomacy, geopolitics, macroeconomics, innovation, and diversity, Secretary Chao brings a 360-degree view to the issues of today and the future.

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  Asian Americans deserve respect, not ‘Go back to China’ insults and worse: Elaine Chao

  (USA Today) – It’s outrageous that in the 21st century, AAPI people and others live in fear because they look like their ancestors didn’t arrive on the Mayflower.

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  America Needs Leaders Like Elaine Chao

  (WSJ) – She’s an inspiration to minorities and women and is under baseless attack.

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  Elaine Chao explains why she doesn’t see herself as a Washington insider

  (Washington Post) – Elaine Chao is the secretary of transportation.

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  Elaine Chao understands ‘being on the outside.’

  (USA Today) – Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao says she still sometimes feels like the outsider she once was, the 8-year-old girl who arrived in the United States on a freight ship from Taiwan

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  100 Women Who Have Helped Shape America

  (The Hill) – Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao is close to beating a record.

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  Preparation, service, and respect: critical building blocks for a lifetime of leadership: The Honorable Elaine Chao

  (She Said/She Said) – I recorded Episode 91 with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao just before social distancing recommendations went into effect to halt the spread of coronavirus.

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  Elaine Chao talks about the First Woman Voter in her family

  (First Woman Voter) – Elaine Chao, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, talks about the First Woman Voter in her family.

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  The unflappable Elaine Chao

  (Washington Examiner) – Chao works with little fanfare. Out of the limelight, she rolls out initiatives and projects that will affect everyone for generations to come.

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  Chao: Paving the way for innovation in transportation

  (Statesman) – The department is committed to working with our local, state and private sector partners to engage with these technologies, to improve safety, mobility and accessibility.

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  Elaine Chao: A speedier path for innovation

  (Automotive News) – Behavioral changes and vehicle safety innovations are the keys to reducing traffic crash fatalities and injuries.

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  Secretary Chao: Drones are a new transportation frontier –Their safe development, testing, deployment matter

  (FOX News) – Nearly 1.3 million drones in the U.S. are registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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  Op-ed: The hyperloop will revolutionize transportation in the post-coronavirus world

  (CNBC) – Hyperloop was conceived in the spirit of American ingenuity…

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  America Keeps on Truckin’

  (WSJ) – Among the most overlooked heroes of the 2020 coronavirus crisis are the men and women who haul food and supplies around the country to your local supermarket.

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  Redefining the Road: Q&A with Elaine Chao

  (Redefining the Road) – Elaine Chao plays a vital role in shaping the industry.

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  Elaine Chao: Preparing for the future of automated transportation

  (Washington Examiner) – A new frontier of transportation technology is here.

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  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremony Marking the Completion of the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad

  (Transportation.gov) – Elaine L. Chao Commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremony

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  Secretary Chao Outlines Trump’s Infrastructure Vision

  (US Chamber of Commerce) – The time is right for considerable, pro-growth infrastructure improvements.

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  Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s American Dream, And Her Advice For Young Women

  (Forbes) – “It’s important whatever choices you make, that you know the tradeoffs when you’re making them.”

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  Ex-labor secretary reflects on work-life balance

  (ctpost) – Chao shared her perspective on work-life balance as well as women in leadership Thursday afternoon at the fifth installment of Linda McMahon’s ongoing series “Women Can Have It All” at Sacred Heart University.

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  ‘Men don’t prepare that much, so why do we have to?’

  (Politico) – Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao discusses the preparation gap — and more.

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  Elaine Chao: One woman’s rise from immigrant roots to the presidential Cabinet

  (CNN) – “Just pursue your life’s passion. Do what you really love, and the way will unfold.”

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  Wilson Center Tribute: The Elaine Chao Story

  The story of Secretary Elaine L. Chao. (See source link.)

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  Elaine Chao: Government Policies Must Not Stifle Sharing Economy

  The keynote, given by former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, discussed “the emerging new world of social commerce” through sharing economy companies such as Uber, Lyft, AirBnB, Snapgoods, and more.

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  Harvard Business School Dedicates First Building Named for Woman with Chao Center

  (NBC) – Ruth Mulan Chu Chao became the matriarch of a family of six daughters, four of whom attended Harvard Business School.

• Elaine Chao Full Biography