CINCINNATI (July 18, 2023) — Growing up in a home shared by her parents and maternal grandparents, Laura Becker learned valuable lessons about charitable giving.

“My grandparents were very poor, but they always gave. It was really important to them,” Laura says. “My dad also grew up in extreme poverty. He was able to put himself through college, and then did quite well. He gave generously but always privately.” Indeed, years passed before Laura heard stories about some of his gifts, such as paying school tuition for a child whose family lost everything and purchasing a new roof for a church. 

The lessons her family imparted still resonate: “Giving is a privilege no matter what you have,” she says. “You do it with humility. It’s a gift to be able to give.”

For the third consecutive year, Laura leads the United Way workplace campaign at Procter & Gamble, where she is President of Global Business Services and oversees nearly 6,000 employees.

“When I started at P&G in 1990, support for United Way was an important part of our culture, and it has continued to be,” Laura says. Such support dates to 1915 when James N. Gamble, the son of P&G co-founder James Gamble, helped create the first coordinated community campaign for charities, which today is United Way.

United Way, of course, has evolved over the years, and goals and strategies have shifted. At a recent event for P&G leaders, Laura interviewed United Way President and CEO Moira Weir, who described how today’s organization is mobilizing the caring power of individuals and organizations so everyone in the region can thrive.

“Her enthusiasm and passion, the breadth of knowledge, and the depth of her thought and expertise are 100% clear,” Laura said. “I’m excited by her strategies.”

Laura does not lack enthusiasm and passion, either, especially when it comes to the education and well-being of children. She and her husband, Eric, have four grown children, including a son with disabilities.

“He’s thriving today, but I know he’s thriving only because people opened doors and believed in him,” Laura says. “As parents, we did a lot, but it took other experts and resources to open those doors. So, when I give my money or my time, whether it’s to United Way or to schools, it’s really important to me that I can make a difference in someone’s life or open a door.”

One way she’s opening doors: In the past couple of years at P&G, she has led efforts to recruit and hire people who are neurodivergent — with an initial focus on people with autism. She also hosted a forum on neurodivergence at P&G. “My passion,” she says, “is trying to change the world for neurodivergent talents, one person at a time.”

So far, more than 50 autistic talents have been hired. “I think the biggest win has been normalizing the conversation for employees who were already here. So many people have said, ‘I have a neurodivergent issue’ or ‘I’m autistic’ or ‘I have a family member who is.’ They were everywhere and not being open and maybe not getting all the support they need.

“Opening doors,” Laura says, “makes a difference.”

FUN FACT ABOUT LAURA:

“For fun, I like anything outdoors. I recently hiked two weeks in Italy, probably 10 to 15 miles each day through the mountains. I don’t know if it was on my bucket list, but it was on my daughter’s, so I went, along with two of my sons and my husband.”