Betty LaMarr, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, of EmpowHer Institute, is passionate about serving others through coaching and mentoring. While living in South Africa, Betty saw the devastating effects poverty and powerlessness have on girls and women. She also saw what happens when girls and women are offered even modest opportunities for empowerment: Women discover independence, girls seek education, and life-chances for entire families and communities are positively altered as the cycle of poverty and dependency is broken.

Inspired by her experience in South Africa, Betty came back to the United States and founded EmpowHer. Its mission was to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged girls and women by offering them opportunities to enhance their lives through the development of entrepreneurial, business, and life skills that lead to economic independence. Since its inception in 2003, EmpowHer has served thousands of girls and women in the Los Angeles area.

Betty earned a BA in Business Administration from California State University at Los Angeles and an MBA from Pepperdine University. The Mayor of Los Angeles and California’s Lieutenant Governor have honored Betty for outstanding community service as an activist for change as well as for her contributions to a variety of youth organizations. Betty is an author, speaker, businesswoman, entrepreneur, and a 2013 Soroptimist International Ruby Award winner by the Camino Real Region. A 2012 Pepperdine University George Award winner for Community Service. 2010 Los Angeles Business Journal honoree and finalist for the Women Making a Difference Award.