Michelynn “Miki” Woodard
President & CEO
Michelynn “Miki” Woodard joins Texas Women’s Foundation as President and CEO in February 2022. A 25-year business and social-impact veteran, she is a respected national voice who has dedicated her career to championing equity, cultural diversity and social justice.
As the leader of one of the largest women’s funds in the world, Miki works alongside a talented group of multicultural and multigenerational leaders to drive Texas Women’s Foundation’s enduring focus on its mission – to raise funds for statewide research, advocacy and grantmaking to unlock economic and leadership opportunities for Texas women and girls. Since its founding 37 years ago, the organization has awarded $57 million in grants and programs, including $43 million since 2011. In addition, the Foundation’s assets of over $40 million are invested in its innovative 100% mission-aligned gendered portfolio providing both financial returns and social benefits to women and girls.
Miki brings to her role at Texas Women’s Foundation a long history of working across industries and geographies leading multimillion-dollar equity, cultural diversity and social justice impact investments, philanthropic programs and advocacy initiatives. Most recently, she served as Head of Social Impact, Diversity and Inclusion for Bad Robot Productions, Inc., and Senior Advisor of the Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams Family Foundation.
In 2016, Miki co-founded The Artemis Agency, one of the first 100% women-led social impact agencies, partnering with high-profile celebrities and influencers to execute sustainable social impact strategies and social change initiatives. Prior to that, she was President and CEO of the multimillion-dollar non-profit charitable foundations of two high-profile television celebrities, where she led national programs and advocacy efforts benefitting children and families.
During her tenure as Vice President, Philanthropy at JCPenney, Miki managed a $30 million global corporate giving portfolio and oversaw disaster relief, volunteer programs, grant administration, employee hardships, corporate sustainability, and military affairs. Before that, she served as Managing Director for Be the Change, Inc., organizing coalitions of non-profits, social entrepreneurs, policymakers, private sector leaders, academics and citizens to address national issues. Miki began her career as an executive with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), working as a philanthropic advisor to prominent celebrity clients.
A passionate philanthropist and volunteer, Miki is the immediate past board chair of Community Coalition, founded by Congresswoman Karen Bass in 1990. She is also a board member for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, a founding board member of The Papa John’s Foundation, and sits on the California Advisory Board for The Trust for Public Land.
The indelible impact of Miki’s influence has been widely recognized. A highly sought-after public speaker, Miki frequently lends her voice to social impact dialogues spanning a multitude of media platforms from podcasts to national television programs. Variety recently included Miki in its annual roundup of the top creatives pushing forward the needle on diversity and inclusion, and Inclusion magazine crowned her one of “the country’s most innovative D&I thought leaders.” Miki is a fourth-generation graduate of Hampton University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Twitter: @MikiWSpeaks
FB: @MikiWSpeaks
IG: @miki.speaks
LinkedIn: Michelynn Woodard