Maura O'Neill

Maura was appointed by President Obama to be the first Chief Innovation Officer of the US Agency for International Development, where she had responsibility for inspiring and leading breakthrough innovations in foreign assistance and development worldwide.

Maura served as a member of the White House Innovation Cohort assisting in innovation across federal government. Prior to joining the Administration, she served as a Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate.

A serial entrepreneur, Maura founded four companies in the fields of electricity efficiency, smart grid and customer info systems/billing, e-commerce and digital education. In 1989, she was named the Greater Seattle Businessperson of the Year.

In addition to teaching Maura advises early stage companies, incubates breakthrough approaches to global health with the Aspen Institute and serves as founding Vice Chair, Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, a public charter.

Education

• PhD, Interdisciplinary (Psychology, Biology, and Business), University of Washington, 2009
  
• MBA, Columbia University, 2005
  
• MBA, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, 2004
  
• BA, magna cum laude, Environmental Studies, University of Washington, 1977
  

Positions Held

At Haas since 2005

• 2005 – present, Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley
  
• 2014, Lecturer, School of Engineering, Stanford University
  
• 2014, Lecturer, Columbia University
  
• 2010 – 2013, Senior Counselor and Chief Innovation Officer, U.S. Agency for International Development
  
• 2009, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, Energy and Climate for Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
  
• 2008 – 2009, Chief of Staff, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senate
  
• 2006 – 2008, Lecturer, Columbia University
  
• 2005 – 2008, Chairman, Fourteen40 (www.cafescribe.com)
  
• 1999 – 2001, Chairman and CEO, ImproveMyBusiness.com
  
• 1995 – 1997, President and CEO, ConneXt
  

External Service and Assignments

• Vice Chair, Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women
  
• Guest Curator, Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship
  
• External Advisor, PATH for the Global Innovation Countdown 2030
  
• Member, Clinton Global Initiative
  

Current Research and Interests

• Innovation: How does disruptive innovation occur
  
• Women: Factors that influence/improve women’s employment and entrepreneurship globally
  Selected Papers and Publications
  
• Disruptive Innovation Often Comes From Unexpected Places http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maura-o/scientific-innovation_b_2546044.html
  (For all articles: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maura-o/)
  
• Fisman, Raymond, and Maura O’Neill. “Gender and Workplace Perceptions Around the World: Evidence from the World Values Survey.” Journal of Human Resources 44, no. 4 (2009): 858-870
  

Teaching

• New Venture Finance
• Advanced New Venture Finance
• Washington DC Immersion Week

Honors and Awards

• Berkeley Haas Cheit Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2015, 2016
• Businessperson of the Year, Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 1989
• North American Participant, NATO Advanced Study Institute on Energy Efficiency and Utility Industry, Portugal, 1987
• Environmental Excellence Award, Rotary Club of Seattle, 1992
• Academic: PhD nominated for top dissertation across all departments and schools (2009); Columbia University Distinguished Service Award (2004); University of California, Berkeley Haas School of business- Dean’s Council of Student Presidents, Haas Community Fellow & Graduation Speaker
• Beta Gamma Sigma (Academic business honor society)