Becky Austen is a bit of a “Renaissance Woman.” She combines many talents to become an outstandingly effective Impact Austin member.
We asked how she discovered Impact Austin.
“I attended an in-home coffee with Rebecca Powers in Dec. 2009, and was so inspired by the message and collective enthusiasm that I signed up on the spot. I was active with several non-profits, and saw the difference my giving could make through Impact Austin,” Becky said in our recent interview.
She jumped in wholeheartedly, serving as a FAC member in 2010 & 2011, then as FAC co-chair with the fabulous Cynthia Hoff in 2012 & 2013. She led FAC member orientations and
Grants training through the 2014 grant cycle, and served as FAC advisor.
She recently got involved with the new Grants Innovation committee, and is working with the also-fabulous Susan Blount on FAC coordination. Becky said, “I am also serving as an advisor with Girls Giving Grants (G3), having witnessed first-hand through my daughters how we are cultivating philanthropy and community engagement among teenage girls.“
“The things I treasure most about my Impact Austin experience are the relationships I've developed with a remarkable and diverse group of women, the knowledge I've gained about the Austin community and grant making, and the personal impact I've made through large-scale collective giving. My favorite thing is being deeply involved in the grants process through the FAC's.”
In her “day job,” Becky is a lifetime IBMer, responsible for global sales training and certification. She has held executive and leadership roles across a wide range of disciplines including software development, architecture, strategy, business development and marketing. She’s involved in corporate citizenship and mentorship as an executive sponsor of the IBM Austin women's network, volunteered in various company-sponsored programs (e.g., e-Week, EXITE camp), and went to Chengdu, China in 2011 as a member of IBM's Executive Service Corps.
We asked about her other charitable activities.
“I'm presently the board president at Girlstart, board member at Texas Advocacy Project, advisory board member with Austin Women in Technology (AWT), and member of the Leadership Austin Essentials class of 2015,” said Becky. Past board service includes Girls Rock Austin, Austin Gifted and AWT. She participated in Leadership Texas class of 2010, and was recognized by the YWCA as Woman of the Year for Women's Economic Empowerment in 2011.
In her personal life, Becky is wife to Stacy, and mom to daughters Emma (a freshman at Barnard College in NYC) and Leah (a freshman at Westlake HS).
And for fun?
Becky plays bass guitar (electric and upright) in an all-female blues band and with Girl Guitar, and she has graced the stage at Antone's and other Austin music venues.
