Maria Eitel

As founding President and CEO of the Nike Foundation charity, Maria Eitel is one of the world’s leading philanthropists in the area of young women’s roles in society.   Eitel was born in 1961 in Everett, Seattle (Washington). Her education includes graduating from McGill University in 1983 with Bachelor’s degrees in Communications & Humanistic Studies, graduating from Georgetown University in 1988 with a Master’s degree in Foreign Service & Economics and achieving a Senior Executive Program degree from Stanford University.   Beginning her career as a reporter and producer in commercial and public broadcasting, from 1989 to 1992 Eitel led media relations for the White House as Media Affairs Deputy Director and Special Assistant to the President. She then served as Director of Public Affairs at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, following her role as a Senior Manager at MCI Communications Corporation. Thereafter, she joined Microsoft as their European Corporate Affairs Manager.   In 1996, Eitel was recruited to work for Nike Inc. as their first Vice President of Corporate Responsibility. Her success and experience in this area led Eitel in 2004 to establish the company’s charity arm, the Nike Foundation - via a project called ‘The Girl Effect’, the organisation acts to help adolescent females in developing countries reach their full potential.   Additionally, Maria Eitel serves on a number of boards and advisory groups, as well as appearing at numerous forums to advocate corporate social responsibility, human and labour rights, sustainable development, philanthropy and social entrepreneurship.