Editor’s Note: The David Eccles School of Business is celebrating Women’s History Month by sharing the successes of women business leaders who have made big impacts in the business world.
Juanita Morris Kreps was the first woman to hold the position of U.S. Secretary of Commerce and only the fourth woman in history to hold a U.S. Cabinet position. She served under President Jimmy Carter from Jan. 23, 1977 to Oct. 31, 1979. In addition to being the first woman to hold that position, she also was the first economist to hold the position.
Kreps earned her doctorate from Duke University, and in 1971 wrote the book Sex in the Marketplace: American Women at Work and co-authored a study called Sex, Age, and Work: The Changing Composition of the Labor Force. The feminist movement supporter wrote about the common but usually ignored issues working women faced, and she advocated for flexible work schedules, public pre-schools and equal pay for women.
The business community regarded her highly, and she served as a director at the New York Stock Exchange, Eastman Kodak, and J.C. Penney. She championed corporate social responsibility initiatives, often encouraging companies to use their resources to serve the interests of minorities, women, the environment, and low-income families.
In 1987, she became the first woman to win the Director of the Year award for the National Association of Corporate Directors.