Profile
Elizabeth Werbe is the Director of the The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative (IEI), a university-wide initiative that supports emerging leaders in developing the entrepreneurial mindsets, skills, and sense of purpose needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The IEI aims to catalyze the creation of an inclusive economy by making entrepreneurship education, resources, and networks more accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. Immediately prior to her current role, she led New Challenge, an annual social innovation ideas competition at The New School. Elizabeth is an entrepreneurial leader and educator with two decades of experience working at the intersection of design, education, and social change. What she most enjoys in her work is designing transformative experiences that enable individuals to connect with themselves and the world. Elizabeth’s work is rooted in a desire to awaken young adults to their passions and support them in realizing their full potential. A natural connector who excels at recognizing and building on individual strengths, she thrives in dynamic settings where she engages diverse stakeholders in developing and implementing vision and strategy that increase impact. Before joining The New School, Elizabeth developed and implemented innovative programs at leading educational organizations and nonprofits, including the University of Michigan, Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, the Municipal Art Society of New York, Ashoka Youth Venture, and Bridges to Understanding. She is passionate about inspiring others to find a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives and believes in the power of stories. She holds an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, M.A. from Rhode Island School of Design, and B.A. from Haverford College.