Barbara Franklin Enterprises

The Honorable Barbara Hackman Franklin
Ms. Franklin being sword in as Secretary of Commerce
Secretary Franklin at a book signing

The Hon. Barbara Hackman Franklin

The Honorable Barbara Hackman Franklin is an American government official, corporate director, and business executive. She is currently the President and CEO of Barbara Franklin Enterprises, a private international consulting firm. She served as the 29th U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

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George HW Bush announces decision to nominate Hon. Franklin as Secretary of Commerce

A Trailblazer for Women

In 2017, TIME magazine named Secretary Franklin one of the “50 Women Who Made American Political History.” She led a White House effort to increase the number of women in high-level government jobs, and was one of the first women graduates of the Harvard Business School.

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Serving President Richard M. Nixon, 1971

Advisor in Chinese Relations

As Secretary of Commerce, Barbara Franklin led a Presidential mission to China to normalize commercial relations. In 2016, she was awarded a “Lifetime Achievement Award in US-China Relations”.

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Barbara Franklin speaking at the opening of a US-China business center in Shenzhen

Governance

Among the earliest businesswomen to be elected to serve on the board of a public company, Franklin has been a director of 14 public companies and four private companies in a broad variety of industry sectors. … Continue Reading

Public Service

I believe in the American system of entrepreneurial capitalism. It is this system, coupled with our democracy and rule of law, which has made the U.S. economy the largest and most dynamic in the world and … Continue Reading

Not-for-Profit Service

Barbara Franklin has been an active member of professional organizations throughout her career, providing leadership and guidance on matters of governance, policy, and strategic planning in addition to … Continue Reading

Contact Us

1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 337-9100 Fax: (202) 337-9104Email: info@bhfranklin.com

In Print

A Matter Of Simple Justice tells the story about how Barbara Franklin was recruited by the Nixon Administration to hire an unprecedented number of women into the upper levels of the federal government.

A Matter Of Simple Justice book preview

On Capitalism

I believe in the American system of entrepreneurial capitalism. It is this system, coupled with our democracy and rule of law, which has made the U.S. economy the largest and most dynamic in the world and brought our country unprecedented prosperity. It is this system which makes the American dream a reality.
- The Honorable Barbara Hackman Franklin