Brooke D. Anderson

Brooke D. Anderson is the president of Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company founded by Melinda French Gates to advance social progress by removing barriers that hold women and all people back. In this role, Anderson leads a team of strategists leveraging philanthropy, venture capital, and advocacy to drive systemic change, with a focus on issues such as caregiving, women in technology, and adolescent mental health. Her leadership at Pivotal Ventures highlights her work in fostering innovation and supporting diverse leaders and organizations shaping the future of social impact.

Anderson’s career spans more than three decades in public service and diplomacy. She has served as a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, chief of staff and counselor at the White House National Security Council, and senior advisor to the secretary of state and the under secretary for political affairs, playing a key role in the Iran nuclear negotiations. Her expertise in navigating complex global and national challenges is reflected in her service on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board and the Department of State’s International Security Advisory Board, as well as her leadership in the Nuclear Threat Initiative, where she was a founding vice president for communications and co-director of the Nuclear Security Project.

A frequent public speaker, Anderson is known for translating high-level policy and strategy into actionable solutions, drawing on her experience advising U.S. presidents, cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, and leading philanthropists. She has received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Montana State University, where she has also taught as a visiting professor. Anderson’s career demonstrates her resilience in high-stakes environments and her dedication to advancing equity and security, establishing her as a prominent voice on leadership, diplomacy, and social innovation.