Meet Our New CEO
New Chief Executive Officer Chosen to Lead the
Center for Women & Democracy
Welcoming Bao-Tram Do as Chief Executive Officer
We are delighted to announce that we have hired a new Chief Executive Officer, Bao-Tram Do. The Center for Women & Democracy’s board of directors voted Bao-Tram on as its new Chief Executive Officer on January 23, 2023. Bringing a background in civic engagement, advocacy, philanthropy, public health, and entrepreneurship, Bao-Tram will be leading the organization in its mission to build a community of diverse women leaders through discussion, education, advocacy, connection, and leadership development to empower all women to lead where they land.
Prior to joining the Center for Women & Democracy, Bao-Tram served as a Program Officer at Seattle Foundation where she worked for seven years and oversaw the foundation’s democracy portfolio – directing philanthropic grants to non-profit organizations that strengthen the voice and participation of underrepresented communities.
Her work in advancing women and people of color in leadership and civic engagement began as a community organizer registering low-income patients to vote at HealthPoint, a network of non-profit health centers. Bao-Tram has experience engaging diverse communities in the electoral process including mobilizing youth leading student voter registration efforts at Whitman College and serving as the board chair of APACEvotes amplifying Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders voices across Washington State. In addition to her local impact, Bao-Tram has worked in global family planning at the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health supporting advocacy efforts towards greater access to reproductive health across the world.
Bao-Tram served on the Summer Search Seattle board of directors and currently sits on the City of Seattle Immigrant & Refugee Commission where she was appointed to her seat in 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bao-Tram Founded Emerald City Flowers — an awarding-winning and published floral design studio. Bao-Tram earned her Masters of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and bachelor’s degree in sociology at Whitman College. She is a Gates Millennium Scholar and recipient of the Center for Women & Democracy 2017 “Kicking Up Our Heels” award.
“I am incredibly honored to be named the CEO of the Center for Women & Democracy. As an alumna of the Center’s impactful programs, I am excited about the opportunity to lead and do so in a way that welcomes women from different backgrounds including women of color, transgender, LGBTQ+, youth, disabled members, and those who face inequities due to their gender.” says Bao-Tram Do. “Now more than ever, we need strong institutions that provide women with opportunities to advance their leadership and build relationships for an inclusive democracy.”
“I am thrilled to have Bao-Tram join the Center for Women & Democracy as our new CEO. Her background, passion, and incredible capabilities will help us grow and positively impact even more women across Washington State,” says Frances Donegan-Ryan, Board President of Center for Women & Democracy. “I know her contributions and successes will be immense and we can’t wait to see what she’ll accomplish.”
Regina Malveaux, Executive Director, Washington State Women's Commission, adds: “The Washington State Women’s Commission is delighted that Bao-Tram is the new CEO of the Center for Women & Democracy and will be bringing her creative and community-oriented leadership. Our commission has had a long history with the Center for Women & Democracy and looks forward to working with Bao-Tram to strengthen our partnership with the organization in elevating women leadership across Washington State.”
We are hosting a Meet The CEO event on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at Tinte Cellars - Georgetown Tasting Room from 6:00-8:00pm PST. Registration is now open.
