Meet Lael Brainard, a Distinguished Fellow at the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy. With an impressive track record, Brainard has held pivotal roles including Director of the White House National Economic Council, Vice Chair and Board Member of the Federal Reserve, and Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she was awarded the prestigious Alexander Hamilton Award.
Throughout her career, Brainard has played a key role in addressing major financial crises, always with the goal of protecting American families and small businesses while restoring financial stability and growth. What motivated her to enter public service? Psaros FinPolicy Scholar Pavlos Tentomas delves deeper in an insightful interview with Brainard.
Reflecting on her experiences, Brainard shared: “I grew up moving from country to country, during a time when Poland was still under Soviet rule and Germany was undergoing a remarkable transformation as it integrated into the European Union. Observing these different economic systems as an American made me deeply appreciate how institutional frameworks shape economic opportunities—empowering people to build businesses, pursue meaningful careers, and secure financial stability.”