Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder

Lisa MacDougall

Managing Director / President, BDT & MSD, LLC/ rootEd

Lisa is a Managing Director of Philanthropy and Social Impact at BDT & MSD Partners. At BDT & MSD, Lisa played a central role in designing, launching and managing rootEd Alliance, an initiative supported by a group of philanthropists convened by the firm, which places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work with all students to define and plan their futures, whether through a college degree, work-based learning, or military service. Prior to joining BDT & MSD, Lisa was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs where she helped launch and direct programs for 10,000 Women, a strategic philanthropic initiative focused on women’s economic empowerment. Earlier in her career, Lisa managed international development projects for the World Bank Group in Sub-Saharan Africa, worked as a legislative assistant for rural economic development in Wisconsin, and served as a member of the United States Peace Corps in Senegal. Lisa holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a MA from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.