Eos Foundation Who We Are

Who We Are

Andrea Silbert

President

Before joining the Eos Foundation, Andrea Silbert was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in the Massachusetts 2006 Democratic primary. She ran on her experience in job creation, economic development, economic justice, and poverty alleviation. Andrea was formerly the CEO and co-founder of the Center for Women & Enterprise, one of the largest nonprofit entrepreneurial training centers in New England. Founded in 1995, CWE serves entrepreneurs ranging from owners of small home-based businesses to the founders of fast-growth technology companies like Zipcar and iRobot.

Andrea began her career as a financial analyst with Morgan Stanley in New York. She left the country in 1988 to work in grassroots economic development in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Brazil. During her time in Latin America, Andrea worked for Women’s World Banking, an international network of micro-loan funds, and with a nonprofit organization serving Brazilian street girls.

A nationally recognized advocate in the area of economic empowerment, Andrea was selected in 2001, along with Senator Barbara Mikulski and Gloria Steinem, by Working Woman magazine as one of only 25 leaders in the past 25 years who “have given women in the workplace a better shot.” Nationally, Andrea served as the founding President of the Association of Women’s Business Centers, meeting with Congressional leaders to promote legislation to assist women-owned and small businesses. In 2000, she was appointed to the National Women’s Business Council, which provides advice to Congress and the President on issues of concern to women entrepreneurs, particularly around access to capital and government procurement. Andrea was a co-founder of Springboard Enterprises, a national organization which has helped fast-growth women entrepreneurs raise over $2 billion in angel financing and venture capital.

In 2007, Governor Deval Patrick named Andrea to the Public Education Nominating Council (PENC), which appoints board members to public colleges and universities across Massachusetts. She also serves on the leadership committee of the Governor’s Job Readiness Task Force to reform the state education system, and oversees the Early Education and Care subcommittee.

Andrea lives in Harwich, Massachusetts, with her husband, Craig Caldwell, and their three children. She attended Harvard University, earning a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. A dedicated environmentalist, Andrea works to protect our natural resources and quality of life through her service as a Trustee with the Harwich Conservation Trust.