WASHINGTON — Although she holds a position that many might consider daunting, Michelle Smith is true to who she is: a Texas girl who embraces her roots while informing herself to clearly communicate for the brightest economic minds in the country.
Smith is the chief of staff at the Federal Reserve and also directs communications, a post that has involved working with current Fed Chair Janet Yellen, and former leaders Ben Bernake, Alan Greenspan and Timothy Geithner.
“When I think about my career, I think about the moments when the heat is on. In those moments, what I’ve realized is, it’s important is to stay calm, not to get drawn into the drama and to focus on just doing the next right thing,” she said.
Smith jokes she has always chosen her bosses well. Her career trajectory, and that of her bosses, has been guided in part by past presidents. After starting her career on the Hill, Smith moved with Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, to the Treasury Department after the senator was appointed secretary by President Bill Clinton.
Since then, she has advised some of the best economic minds in the nation on how to best communicate with the public they serve. And Smith tries to make her role as the non-economist work to her advantage.
“I think its really important to not be afraid to speak up. Your contribution from your perspective may be exactly what the problem needs,” she said.
The Dallas native considers herself lucky to be working for the Fed, but finds that her success is based in part on the balance she maintains with her personal life.
“We have to prioritize the things that are important to us, and work will not do that for us. That’s our job,” Smith said.
“I think that I’m better at home when I’m contributing to the best of my ability at work. And I think I’m better at work when I’m tending to my physical, and spiritual and home needs,” she said.
This story is part of WTOP’s Women of Washington series, which is sponsored by the Washington Area Cadillac Dealers.
