Barbara Langley serves as Director for CIPE’s Center for Women’s Economic Empowerment, democratizing opportunity for women by fostering ecosystems for entrepreneurship. She leads CIPE’s strategy to amplify the voice of the private sector through women’s participation in free markets and democratic institutions. Langley has conducted campaign management, communications, coalition building, issues advocacy, good governance and accountability, leadership and strategic planning programs for democratic political and civic activists, business leaders, local elected officials and parliamentary and campaign staff.

Prior to joining CIPE, Langley served for nearly 20 years at the International Republican Institute (IRI), holding temporary and long-term postings in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan, Mongolia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Washington, DC. She also held senior management positions as Executive Director for IRI’s Arab Women’s Leadership Program, Deputy Director for the Institute’s Middle East and North Africa Division, and Deputy Director for IRI’s Women’s Democracy Network.
Langley has also observed national and local elections in 11 countries worldwide.

In addition to her experience in the democracy and governance field, Langley served in the Administration of President George W. Bush as Confidential Assistant in the Office of the Director of the U.S. Peace Corps. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian and International Studies from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, completed the American University’s Campaign Management School, and is an alumni of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management.