Educator; Former Managing Director, Accenture
Lakemont, GA
Joan Salwen is an organizational strategist who has applied her craft in both business and education. She was an angel investor in Atlanta Girls’ School, the city’s only independent college preparatory school for girls. She later became the founding faculty of the school’s Sara Blakely Academy of Entrepreneurship, a program that equips girls to plan their own businesses and compete for seed capital. After earning a Master of Arts in Teaching, Joan joined and then chaired the English department and, finally, served as Head of School. Prior to joining Atlanta Girls’ School, Joan enjoyed a 20-year career at Accenture, restructuring shared services at Wells Fargo and building BankofAmerica.com. As a senior partner, she led a global women’s initiative to connect women with mentors, training, and opportunities for advancement.
Joan is married to Kevin Salwen, an author and former Wall Street Journal columnist and editor. In 2008, the Salwens sold their 6,500-square-foot home, moved into one half the size, and donated half the sales price to help 20,000 villagers in Africa end their own hunger and poverty. Their children are Joseph, a budding screenwriter, and Hannah, an entrepreneur and the co-author (with Kevin) of the best-selling family memoir, The Power of Half. Joan serves on the board of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and is a national trustee of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. A native of Iowa, Joan earned degrees from Agnes Scott College and Northwestern University.
Partner: Kevin Salwen