Washington, D.C. — Today, the Center for American Progress announced that Shilpa Phadke, former White House special assistant to the president for Cabinet affairs, has joined CAP as Senior Director of the organization’s Women’s Initiative program. In her role, Phadke will oversee CAP’s efforts to generate and support public policies that improve the lives of women and their families, including policies that promote women’s economic security and advancement and policies that protect women’s reproductive health care.
“Women have made enormous advancements in recent decades, but today’s workplace and public policies have not kept pace with these changes, and women often struggle to balance work and home life without the protections of paid leave and paid sick days,” said Neera Tanden, CAP President. “Shilpa will play a critical role leading CAP’s work to advance policies that address the needs of women and families, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team.”
Prior to joining CAP, Phadke served as a senior advisor to the under secretary for economic growth, energy, and the environment at the U.S. Department of State, where she provided strategic guidance and managed communications and legislative functions on a wide range of issues. Phadke also served as a deputy director in the Office of Cabinet Affairs, before acting as a special assistant to the president for Cabinet affairs. From 2010 to 2014, Phadke worked to advance the administration’s policy, program implementation, communications, and regulatory priorities, including issues pertaining to women and working families.
As a former director at the Glover Park Group, Phadke provided strategic counsel to both corporate and nonprofit clients pursuing significant policy and legislative goals and worked on complex topics, including international women’s issues. Phadke also served on the board of Beyond the 11th, a nonprofit organization founded by 9/11 widows dedicated to empowering widows in Afghanistan to support themselves and their families. Phadke started her career on Capitol Hill working for Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA), where she managed health care and women’s issues.
Phadke is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
For more information, contact Chelsea Kiene at [email protected] or 202.478.5328.
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