What does it mean to be “present at the creation”?
In this episode of 50x50: Whatever Happened to the Harvard Class of 1976?, Michael Conniff speaks with Elizabeth Vale about a life shaped by ambition, service, and a willingness to embrace opportunity.
Elizabeth reflects on her experience as part of the pioneering generation of women at Harvard, her decades-long career in banking and asset management, and her unexpected path into politics and public policy. The conversation traces her journey from Morgan Stanley to the Obama White House, her close work with Elizabeth Warren, and her role in helping establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Along the way, she shares memories from the Harvard Class of 1976 reunion, insights into balancing family and career, and lessons learned from working alongside some of the most influential political leaders of the past several decades.
This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, public service, women breaking barriers, and the enduring impact of a generation that came of age during a period of profound change.
Plus: Elizabeth reveals why she believes the next generation of political leadership may emerge from the moderates—and which rising figures give her hope for America’s future.
