Connie K. Duckworth

Connie K. Duckworth founded ARZU, Inc. in 2004, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering destitute women weavers in rural Afghanistan. As the Founder and CEO, she serves pro bono and has expanded the organization from 30 weavers to approximately 500 Afghan employees. ARZU supports various community initiatives, focusing on education, maternal health, and sustainable development.

Previously, Duckworth retired in 2001 as a Partner and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, where she made history as the first woman to be named a sales and trading partner. Her career there spanned two decades, from 1981 to 2001.

In addition to her work with ARZU, Duckworth is actively involved in numerous other roles. She serves as a Trustee of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, a Director of Steelcase Inc., and holds board positions at the University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, the Interfaith Youth Core, and NorthShore University HealthSystem. Her contributions in these capacities combine her extensive experience in finance with her commitment to social impact and education.

Duckworth has authored "The Old Girls Network: Insider Advice for Women Building Businesses in a Man's World" and continues to engage in writing and activism. Her efforts have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Wharton School Dean's Medal in 2011 and recognition as a 2008 Skoll Foundation honoree for Social Entrepreneurship. She holds an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. Duckworth's leadership and advocacy continue to influence a wide range of sectors, from corporate to non-profit, both domestically and internationally.