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A recognized international non-profit leader and passionate advocate for children in need, Carolyn Miles worked in a variety of fields before a trip to the Philippines changed the direction of her life. She began her career at American Express after earning her MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 1988, then helped to grow a successful coffee shop business in Asia. After returning to the United States, she switched to the non-profit sector and became the first female President and CEO of Save the Children US, an organization that serves over 150 million children worldwide. 

Carolyn Speer Miles was born in 1961 in Canton, CT, and grew up in Bethel Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her parents, Edison and Nancy, and brothers, David, Walter, and Jack.  She attended Bucknell University, where she received her B.S. in Animal Behavior in 1983. After graduating, she decided not to pursue a career related to her degree and instead worked in the sales department of a multinational chemical company. She returned to school to get an MBA at Darden, where she concentrated in marketing. Shortly after completing her degree in 1988, she married her Darden classmate Brendan Miles and took a marketing job at American Express in New York.  When an opportunity arose to live abroad and work for the company’s travel-related services, she jumped at it. Shortly before relocating to Hong Kong, Carolyn found out she was expecting her first child, Keegan. 

After the birth of her second child in Hong Kong, Carolyn teamed up with fellow Darden alum Tom Neir to help develop his coffee shop business. The company became very successful and grew to 40 stores throughout Asia. Tom eventually sold the business to a Chinese investor, and these days the coffee shops can be found all over China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

While living in Asia, Carolyn visited the Philippines on vacation with her family and experienced something that would change her life. On the drive from the airport, their car stopped at a traffic light and was approached by a woman begging in the street while carrying a baby the same age as Carolyn’s son Patrick inside the car. Carolyn and the woman looked at each other and this encounter marked a profound perspective-shifting moment for her. She could not look away from the deprivations facing so many children who were born into extreme poverty and would never have the opportunities her children did. The experience prompted her to begin doing volunteer work in Asia and to rethink her career trajectory. She decided that when her family returned to the U.S. she would transition to the non-profit sector.

Back in the U.S., Carolyn joined the Westport, CT-based organization Save the Children as Associate Vice President in 1998. She quickly climbed the ranks, becoming Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2004. During her time as COO, the organization grew substantially in terms of funds raised, enabling Save the Children’s nutrition, health, and education programs to reach twice as many children. In 2011 Carolyn became the organization’s first female President and CEO, a position she held until 2020. During her tenure, she focused on women’s and girls’ equity, hunger, learning outcomes, and ending preventable child deaths as key issues. She traveled to field operations in more than 90 countries and spearheaded successful efforts to raise awareness of the organization’s mission and increase engagement through social media and partnerships. 

After retiring from Save the Children in 2020, Carolyn became a Professor of Practice and Special Advisor to the Dean at Darden. She teaches sustainability and CEO leadership and is driving several diversity programs at the school to increase the number of women and students from diverse backgrounds studying at Darden and entering management. She has served on numerous boards, including the Darden Foundation Board, Bucknell University, the US Global Leadership Coalition, InterAction, Blackbaud, and MFAN.  She has three children and currently lives in Charlottesville, VA, and Fairfield, CT.