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Elizabeth Birch has had an extensive career that spans the corporate, legal, nonprofit and commercial real estate worlds. Elizabeth is a lawyer licensed to practice in Washington, DC and California. She began her career at a major San Francisco-based law firm (McCutchen) specializing in commercial litigation and intellectual property law. She served as the Chief of Litigation, Worldwide & Human Resources Counsel for Apple Computer, Inc. from 1989 to 1995. She also served as the General Counsel to Claris Corporation, Apple’s wholly-owned software subsidiary.
In 1995 and for a decade more, Elizabeth served as the President and Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization and foundation. Under her leadership, HRC blossomed into one of the largest, strongest and most effective nonprofits in the country. During this period, Elizabeth and her team employed innovative techniques in management, communications, marketing, media, advocacy and development to introduce a long period of growth and expansion, both in terms of membership and revenue. While heading the Human Rights Campaign, she also spearheaded a Capital Campaign and the execution of a real estate strategy that had a profound effect on the organization’s effectiveness and visibility. To this day, the HRC building has served as an inspiring and iconic symbol for human rights while providing an extremely valuable legacy asset. Since HRC, she has been able to bring her extensive corporate and nonprofit expertise to a wide variety of commercial real estate clients. In addition to other best-in-class programming to advance LGBTQ right, Elizabeth launched the now unbiqitous HRC Corporate Equality Index which has become the standard in judging a company’s commitment to their LGBTQ talent. She also introduced the HRC Workplace Program designed to empower Employee Resource Groups across every industry and geography. Other indices were introduced to track munipalities, states, and hospitals.
Elizabeth has provided leadership/culture and DEI guidance to a wide variety of major nonprofit organizations, trade associations, Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Military. She has advised the Clinton, Obama and Biden Administrations, Members of Congress, and the Pentagon. She is a well-known keynote speaker, has appeared on programs such as Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Good Morning America, the Today Show, 20/20, This Week, Face the Nation, Nightline, Crossfire, the Larry King Show, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and has been profiled in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer.
Elizabeth began her commercial real estate career in earnest when she joined CBRE in 2018. She is passionate about the importance of aligning the working environment (using DEI principles) with the mission, culture, and operational priorities for any organization. The right workplace setting can allow an organization to flourish. This has become even more true following the pandemic. She believes that, next to attracting and retaining the best talent, bringing a rigorous process of excellence to real estate planning and execution is the most important factor in predicting the overall success of any enterprise.
In 1995 and for a decade more, Elizabeth served as the President and Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization and foundation. Under her leadership, HRC blossomed into one of the largest, strongest and most effective nonprofits in the country. During this period, Elizabeth and her team employed innovative techniques in management, communications, marketing, media, advocacy and development to introduce a long period of growth and expansion, both in terms of membership and revenue. While heading the Human Rights Campaign, she also spearheaded a Capital Campaign and the execution of a real estate strategy that had a profound effect on the organization’s effectiveness and visibility. To this day, the HRC building has served as an inspiring and iconic symbol for human rights while providing an extremely valuable legacy asset. Since HRC, she has been able to bring her extensive corporate and nonprofit expertise to a wide variety of commercial real estate clients. In addition to other best-in-class programming to advance LGBTQ right, Elizabeth launched the now unbiqitous HRC Corporate Equality Index which has become the standard in judging a company’s commitment to their LGBTQ talent. She also introduced the HRC Workplace Program designed to empower Employee Resource Groups across every industry and geography. Other indices were introduced to track munipalities, states, and hospitals.
Elizabeth has provided leadership/culture and DEI guidance to a wide variety of major nonprofit organizations, trade associations, Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Military. She has advised the Clinton, Obama and Biden Administrations, Members of Congress, and the Pentagon. She is a well-known keynote speaker, has appeared on programs such as Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Good Morning America, the Today Show, 20/20, This Week, Face the Nation, Nightline, Crossfire, the Larry King Show, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and has been profiled in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer.
Elizabeth began her commercial real estate career in earnest when she joined CBRE in 2018. She is passionate about the importance of aligning the working environment (using DEI principles) with the mission, culture, and operational priorities for any organization. The right workplace setting can allow an organization to flourish. This has become even more true following the pandemic. She believes that, next to attracting and retaining the best talent, bringing a rigorous process of excellence to real estate planning and execution is the most important factor in predicting the overall success of any enterprise.
Education
- Law Degree (Doctor of Jurisprudence), University of Santa Clara School of Law, California
- PhD (Hon) (Doctor of Humanities in recognition of Human & Civil Rights Leadership), University of Hawaii, Hawaii
- BA ( Political Science & Oceanography), University of Hawaii, Hawaii
- Licensed Commercial Real Estate Professional, DC & Virginia
Professional Affiliations/Accreditation
- Member of the Legal Bar in good standing, California & DC
- Member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar
- 9th Circuit Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year
- Board Member, Leadership Conference on Human & Civil Rights
- Member, Women’s Bar Association
- Women’s Business Collaborative – Represent CBRE as corporation of excellence
- Highest National Civil Rights Honor, Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights
- TEDx Speaker, From the Gutter to Glory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEU0VE2VL7c
CBRE - Selected Real Estate Clients
- Entertainment Software Association
- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
- American Federation of Teachers
- Vital Voices Global Partnership
- Environmental Working Group
- Generali
- Hauptman Ham
- Rachel’s Network
- Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights
- Human Rights Campaign
- Hattaway Communications
- NGLCC
- Victory Fund
- Institute for Women’s Policy Research
- Voto Latino
- Americans United
Global Out (DEI/Management)
- TEDx Pennsylvania
- McDonalds
- General Mills
- Kodak
- Target
- Womens Business Collaborative
- Human Rights Campaign
- United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Navy
- U.S. Marines
- West Point Academy (Leadership Fellow at MacDonald School)
- Justice, State, OPM & Other US Agencies