When Beth Bengtson first walked the marble halls of Wall Street in the 1990s, she saw a world driven by power suits and profit margins — not purpose. “Purpose-driven business” wasn’t part of the conversation, and success was usually defined by one thing: more. But even in that high-pressure environment, Beth found herself quietly questioning the norm. Why should doing good be something saved for retirement?
That question eventually shaped her career and sparked a movement focused on using business as a force for good.
A Career Sparked by Curiosity and Conscience
Beth’s journey began in finance, but her curiosity kept drifting toward impact. Working in the fast-paced culture of 1990s Wall Street, she noticed something important: money itself wasn’t the problem. It was the choices behind it. As she puts it, “Business generates capital. The question becomes: how do you use that capital, and where do you use that capital?”
Her early career also collided with the height of affirmative action. Beth has shared that being hired as a tall, blonde woman in that era gave her access to opportunities — and also made her question why those opportunities weren’t available to everyone. That awareness planted a seed that would guide her for decades.
A Defining Moment in Guatemala
Years later, a service trip to Guatemala became a turning point. Beth met women working in the sex trade who, despite their circumstances, were running their own microbusinesses. She realized they already had entrepreneurial skills, they just lacked safer pathways to use them.
This experience brought clarity: business could be a tool for economic mobility when the right support exists.
The Birth of Working for Women
From that conviction came Working for Women, a national nonprofit with a bold mission: to elevate women in the workforce, especially those from marginalized communities across the U.S.
Working for Women acts as a business giving community — bringing together companies and professionals who pool their time, skills, and financial support. Their collective contributions fund skills training, career pathways, and community-based programming delivered through grassroots nonprofit partners.
Beth explains that her early assumption — that simply placing women in better jobs would be enough — shifted over time. She learned through experience that women also need strong support systems and community to truly thrive.
Community as the True Currency of Change
While Working for Women’s programs are strategic and data-informed, what stands out most is the human connection.
Beth describes what happens during their sessions: “We’re here to invest in you.”
So many women are used to being the caregivers, the ones investing in others. Being told that someone is investing in them is transformative. That sense of community has become the heart of Working for Women’s model.
Money Talks — and So Do Women
In 2024, Beth and her team launched Money Talks, a six-month program designed to help women unpack their relationship with money. It moves far beyond financial literacy and tackles long-standing stigma around money conversations.
Beth shares, “As soon as you put the term ‘money’ up in front…nobody shows.” But once women join the program, everything shifts. Working for Women supports women not just in gaining financial independence, but in building long-term wealth.
For Small Businesses: Purpose Isn’t a Luxury
Beth has a clear message for small business owners: you don’t need to be big to make a difference. She stresses that businesses can give at any level and that the power of collective giving turns individual contributions into meaningful change.
Her philosophy is simple: start where you are. Build purpose into your model. Make giving part of your business DNA.
The Ripple Effect of Impact
For Beth, impact isn’t just about numbers. She says it best: “It’s not a quantitative thing. It’s qualitative.”
It’s in the stories, the confidence, the shifts in identity and possibility. One woman’s growth ripples outward — to her family, her community, and the next generation.
From Wall Street to Working for Women, Beth’s journey proves that business and purpose don’t have to compete. In the right hands, they fuel each other.
Learn More and Get Involved
You can learn more about Beth Bengtson and Working for Women by following their mission on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join the giving community that’s helping build a more inclusive and equitable workforce — one investment at a time.
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