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Susan Sher on Working for The First Lady
Susan Sher
Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama; First Female Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago
- Spent a decade in the healthcare industry as former VP for the legal and governmental affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System
- Former lead attorney for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
- Draws on her experience to address health care, current political issues, and the inner-workings of the White House
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Susan Sher, Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, is a long-time friend of the Obamas and widely regarded as a solid strategic thinker. Originally hired as the President’s associate counsel, Sher was part of President Obama’s healthcare reform team before transitioning to the East Wing. There, she proved herself an integral player in the White House, from overseeing the First Lady’s healthcare and anti-obesity agenda to coordinating with the West Wing on Michelle Obama’s role in elections.
President Obama said in a statement, “Susan has brought tremendous skill and dedication to the First Lady’s office, as well as my Administration’s outreach to the Jewish Community and our efforts to pass healthcare reform.” The New York Times also wrote that Sher was the First Lady’s most effective advocate in the East Wing. In her lectures, she draws from her experience, sharing anecdotes from her time in the East Wing. She addresses healthcare, other current policy discussions, and the inner-workings of the world’s most powerful residence.
Focusing on Healthcare. Before her service in the White House, Susan Sher was the vice president for legal and governmental affairs and general counsel of the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System for more than a decade. She was responsible for all legal, government, regulatory, and community affairs at the hospitals. In this role, she was Valerie Jarrett’s (the assistant to the President for intergovernmental relations and the public liaison) and Michelle Obama’s boss. She was also on the Mt. Sinai Hospital Medical Center & Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital & Care Network board of directors and has been on a variety of task forces and committees involving nonprofit corporations and healthcare, including the Illinois Hospital Association, the Attorney General’s Charitable Advisory Task Force, and the Donor’s Public Trust Task Force.
Sher then joined the Obama administration in 2009, signing on as a White House associate counsel to both President Barack Obama and the First Lady. She provided legal advice on healthcare policy issues, and later in 2009, the First Lady asked Sher to step in as her chief of staff. She helped the First Lady promote the President’s healthcare reform legislation and then the First Lady’s own health and anti-obesity campaign.
Chicago Roots. Susan Sher was the first assistant corporation counsel for the city of Chicago from 1989 through 1993 and then became the corporation counsel, the city’s top legal officer. In these roles, she was responsible for representing the mayor, city departments, boards, and commissions on all legal matters. She was Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s lead attorney for eight years. Before working for the City of Chicago, Sher was associate general counsel of the University of Chicago and, earlier, was a partner at Mayer Brown & Platt, where she specialized in labor and litigation.
She is a 1974 cum laude graduate of Loyola University of the Chicago School of Law. She also served the Obama administration as liaison to the Jewish community.
Speaker Video
Inside the White House. Susan Sher is a long-time friend of the Obamas. Sher has been an integral player in the White House, from overseeing the First Lady’s healthcare and anti-obesity agenda to coordinating with the West Wing on Michelle Obama’s role in the elections. In her lectures, she will draw from her experience, sharing anecdotes from her time in the East Wing. As one of the only former chiefs-of-staff giving speeches, she will address healthcare, other current policy discussions, and the inner-workings of the world’s most powerful residence.
Healthcare and the Politics of Health Care Reform. With a significant background in the health services industry and close ties to the Obama administration, Susan Sher addresses health care and the politics of health care reform. Having been a part of the President Obama’s health care reform team, Sher is intimately familiar with the administration’s struggles and triumphs in this realm of reform. Before she left for the White House, Susan Sher was also the vice president for legal and governmental affairs and general counsel of the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System for more than a decade. In her presentations, Sher discusses President Obama’s challenges passing the legislation, how Congress interacted with the administration, and the ramifications of the reform. She also uses her experience to address childhood obesity and improving the health of American’s nationwide.
Women in Leadership. Susan Sher was the first female corporation counsel for the city of Chicago, one of the first female partners at the law firm Mayer Brown, the associate counsel for President Obama, and the First Lady’s chief of staff, responsible for nearly all happenings in the East Wing. She recounts stories of powerful female leaders, our nation’s First Ladies, the perceptions of the East Wing, women’s issues, and how she juggled her work/life balance in one of the busiest and most prestigious homes in the country.
Six Rules for Succeeding in Business. Sher outlines her six rules for women for succeeding in business and in their careers. Pulling from her own personal experience and growth – from her time taking risks and pay cuts in order to move to a more fulfilling position to working in the White House with Michelle Obama, Sher discusses what she’s learned, how she’s learned it, and all the ups and downs along the way.
