Sue Swenson, MBA
(she/her)Sue Swenson, MBA, is the President of Inclusion International, the United Nations-recognized organization for children with disabilities, their parents, and adults with intellectual disabilities. She was appointed to senior leadership roles in the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations. Ms. Swenson’s middle son Charlie lived with profound disabilities for 30 years. Ms. Swenson is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking, was a Kennedy Fellow in the U.S. Senate, and has held the position of Executive Director at both the Kennedy Foundation and The Arc of the United States. She was educated at the University of Chicago and holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota. (Contact Sue at sue.swenson@gmail.com)
Something that inspired me:
When our son Charlie was first referred to a developmental pediatrician in Minnesota where we lived, he said, “Always remember, just because you can lift the calf every day, that doesn’t mean that someday you will be able to lift the cow.” This quick statement encouraged me to keep my sense of humor, to focus on the future, and to ask for help. And avoid metaphors about cows even in a dairy state.