Susan Chambers and Miriam Rivera to join Kauffman Foundation Board of Trustees

The Kauffman Foundation Board of Trustees has named two prominent business executives to the Foundation’s Board. Susan Chambers and Miriam Rivera will officially begin as Kauffman trustees in June.

“We conducted a comprehensive search to find the right candidates who would add diverse and talented voices to our board to help the Kauffman Foundation eliminate barriers to entrepreneurship and education, starting first in Kansas City,” said Janice Kreamer, chairman of the board. “We believe Susan and Miriam will help us carry out Mr. Kauffman’s intent and legacy, ensuring that anyone, regardless of background, can achieve success.”

With deep roots in Kansas City, Susan Chambers’ career has been focused on building systems and talent within some of our country’s largest corporations. Chambers worked with Kansas City-based Hallmark for 14 years, with increasing responsibility culminating in the position of Director of Application Development. She currently serves as chair of the board for William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri, where she graduated with a BS in systems and data processing.

Chambers retired recently from her role as executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Walmart, where she was recognized as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” by Fortune Magazine five years in a row. In her role at Walmart, she reported directly to the CEO and was responsible for managing, attracting and retaining the world’s largest private workforce. Chambers was responsible for compensation, recruiting, development and retention initiatives as well as benefits and communications for more than 2 million Walmart associates worldwide. Additionally, her duties included human resource technology, culture, diversity and inclusion, and regulatory issues.

Beyond her work experience, Chambers’ passion has been focused on helping students find educational success, currently serving on the Arkansas State Board of Education and previously on the boards of Kansas State University, Walmart Foundation and Duke University.

Miriam Rivera is the co-founder and managing director of Ulu Ventures, a top seed stage venture fund in Silicon Valley focused on information technology startups. She is dedicated to increasing diversity in both the entrepreneurial and investment communities. Ulu’s entrepreneurs are quite diverse by industry standards including approximately 30 percent women CEOs, 30 percent minority CEOs and 10 percent minority co-founders. Prior to Ulu Ventures, Rivera was vice president / deputy general counsel at Google, which she joined in 2001 as the second attorney where she helped build and lead an award-winning global legal department. Rivera is also the co-founder, former co-president and on the board of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs. She is a Kauffman Fellow in venture capital, and worked for Ariba as counsel, after having co-founded angel and then venture-backed Outcome Software. Previously, Rivera worked as a strategy consultant for Accenture and as an associate at the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison.

As a first-generation college student and scholarship recipient, Rivera graduated from Stanford University, where she earned AB, AM and JD/MBA degrees. Her commitment to promoting education to low income families and to her alma mater is extensive. She has helped raise $250 million for need-based undergraduate scholarships and endowed a scholarship fund for low-income or undocumented students at Stanford. She currently serves on Stanford’s Lead Council and the Stanford Law School Venture Fund. Rivera previously served on Stanford’s Board of Trustees, the Office of Technology Licensing Advisory Board, the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School and the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She has been honored with the Stanford Medal, awarded to fewer than 1 percent of Stanford alumni. Rivera also serves on the Investment Committee of Acumen Fund America, an impact investment fund serving the needs of low-income Americans.

Both trustees will advise on Kauffman’s initiatives to support education in Kansas City and spur entrepreneurship locally and beyond. Chambers and Rivera join nine other outside trustees on Kauffman’s board to fulfill Mr. Kauffman’s vision by supporting individuals, organizations and communities with the tools and resources they need to be successful.