Linda McMahon serves as the 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). As a member of President Trump’s cabinet, she advocates on behalf of the almost 29 million small businesses in America, which employ nearly half of all American workers and account for 56.8 million jobs.
An entrepreneur and business executive herself, McMahon is a co-founder and former chief executive officer of Women’s Leadership LIVE, LLC, a company that uses live events and ongoing relationships to educate and inspire women to launch and expand their own businesses, advance their careers toward executive roles, and pursue opportunities for leadership in public service.
McMahon also advocates for women in leadership and business through an interview series with high-profile role models at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She highlights the advances of women in education, business and entrepreneurship in a series called “Women in America” that she co-hosts with Burt Wolf, which airs on PBS stations nationwide.
McMahon is a co-founder and former chief executive officer of WWE, based in Stamford, Connecticut. She helped grow WWE from a 13-person regional operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide.
She stepped down as CEO of WWE in 2009 to run for the U.S. Senate and was the Republican nominee to represent the people of Connecticut in 2010 and 2012.
McMahon has been widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives. In 2014, she was honored by Fairfield/Westchester County Business Journal as one of its “Women Making an Impact.” In 2013, she was named one of Moves Magazine’s “Power Women.” In 2007, she was named one of Multichannel News’ “Wonder Women,” recognizing her accomplishments as a leader in the cable television industry.
McMahon spearheaded a wide variety of community and charitable programs at WWE, including the company's Get R.E.A.L. educational and literacy programs. The Make-A-Wish Foundation has recognized WWE as a top wish granter, awarding it its highest honor in 2004. McMahon was appointed to the organization’s National Advisory Council in 2005. During her tenure, WWE was the recipient of the USO of Metropolitan Washington’s first ever “Legacy of Hope” award, in honor of Bob Hope, for its extensive support of our troops. In 2007, the company received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award for its support of deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2009, McMahon served on the Connecticut Board of Education as an appointee of Governor M. Jodi Rell.
Before joining the U.S. Small Business Administration, McMahon served on the boards of Sacred Heart University of Fairfield, Connecticut; the Close Up Foundation, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that works to educate and inspire young people to participate in our democracy; and American Corporate Partners, a New York-based organization that pairs returning veterans with mentors in the workforce. She also served as President of the Advisory Board for Operation Helmet, which provides comfortable and protective helmet pads for U.S. combat troops; and was a member of the Advisory Board for SoldierStrong, which provides scholarships and rehabilitation technology for returning veterans.
McMahon has been widely recognized for her numerous philanthropic contributions. She was recently honored with the Humanitarian Award from the Catholic Big Sisters & Big Brothers in New York City and the Spirit of Hope Award from Liberation Programs in Norwalk, Connecticut.
In 2014, McMahon received the Prescott Bush Award from the Connecticut Republican Party, the organization’s highest honor. In 2013, she received the Public Service Award from the Women’s National Republican Club.
McMahon is a graduate of East Carolina University. She and her husband, Vince, have two adult children and six grandchildren.