Newsroom Archive

Dana Lewis

Executive Director,
National Women's Business Council

The National Women's Business Council (NWBC) announced the appointment of Dana Lewis as its new Executive Director. Lewis will oversee the daily operations of the Council, which advises the President,Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

Currently Lewis serves as Special Assistant and Personal Aide to First Lady Michelle Obama. In that role, she coordinates and manages the First Lady's briefings, speeches, and public and private schedules. Prior to joining the White House, she served on the Presidential Inaugural Committee and on the Obama presidential campaign.

“I am thrilled to be joining the National Women's Business Council at this critical time for America's small businesses,” Lewis said. “Nearly 30 percent of small businesses are owned by women, and it is critical that we give women the tools they need to start and grow their firms and create jobs. I'm looking forward to working with the President and SBA Administrator Mills to advance the goals of women business owners across the country.”

Lewis began her career in Washington in 1993 as an intern with the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. Previously, she worked for members of both the House and Senate, including Representative Steny Hoyer, Senator Barbara Boxer, and Majority Leader Harry Reid. Throughout her career, she has worked on many issues important to women, from women's rights, to education, labor, and health care policy. She holds a Bachelor Arts in Political Science from Hampton University and is originally from Weston, Connecticutience.

The NWBC was established in 1988 to be an independent advisory body of women business owners that would report to the President and Congress on barriers to success for women-owned businesses. In 1994, the Small Business Reauthorization Act changed the structure of the NWBC to its current form to include both women business owners and representatives of women's business organizations. Today, the Council focuses on priorities including conducting research and on issues important to women business owners, connecting women business owners with policy makers, and expanding and improving opportunities for women-owned firms.