As Women’s History Month begins March 1, the California Chamber of Commerce kicks off a month-long celebration highlighting the role of women in business — those who are making big contributions to their communities and to the state’s economy and jobs climate.
CalChamber’s 2024 Board of Directors Chair, Janet A. Liang, executive vice president, COO, care delivery, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals, is the ninth woman to serve in the organization’s top volunteer position.
Current CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera is the first woman to hold the top staff position. She leads a staff of 100 full- and part-time employees that includes women in eight executive and senior management positions; three policy advocate posts; seven employment law experts; and 39 administrative, communications, customer service, events, finance, human resources, information technology, legal affairs, local chamber, marketing, operations, policy, product development, project management, sales and warehouse positions.
Barrera has made support for women in business one of her top priorities. Under her leadership, CalChamber signed California’s Equal Pay Pledge in May 2023 and she is currently establishing the CalChamber Women’s Leadership Council with the goal of creating even more opportunities for CalChamber members to lead and support the state’s women leaders, and to provide pathways for women leaders of the future.
“California’s women in business have made tremendous contributions to the state’s economy and provided pivotal direction for so many important endeavors,” said Barrera. “Women’s History Month provides us with a great opportunity to celebrate those contributions and call attention to the critical role women are playing in creating and sustaining successful businesses, and will play in the future.”
Visit the CalChamber website to view brief profiles of the women on the CalChamber Board.
