Breaking Barriers: Beth Buck's Path to Philanthropy

alt="Beth Buck and her husband stand at a gala in front of a blue and white statue in the shape of a crab with music notes on it"Beth Buck’s commitment to education and philanthropy was shaped by her parents. With a self-made father and a teacher mother, she witnessed firsthand the impact of their generosity as they established a college scholarship for young women. This inspired her to make a difference in the lives of others.

Together with her husband Bill, recently made a significant bequest to the Tepper School of Business to support an annual scholarship for first-generation undergraduates.

A Pittsburgh native, Buck earned her accounting degree from Robert Morris University in 1977. After graduating, she joined Coopers & Lybrand, where she earned her CPA. She then took a position at a global food products company in 1981, where she was the only woman in her group. Proud of her accomplishments, she implemented the company’s first worldwide computer system. Despite her strong performance, Buck faced barriers to advancement at other locations. She was told that the company believed her husband wouldn't be open to relocating.

Undeterred, she quickly resigned, realizing it was time for a change. She decided to pursue a graduate degree at prestigious Carnegie Mellon University and began a Heinz College program concentrating in finance in 1986.

After earning her degree, the couple moved to Maryland, where Buck held senior finance roles in various organizations, including a venture capital firm, an energy company, and the Baltimore Symphony. Buck’s husband also held senior roles in several organizations including a consulting firm, a financial services company, and a law firm.

Throughout her career, she often found herself as the first woman in her roles, facing pay disparities and higher expectations. However, these challenges fueled her determination to mentor and support the growing number of women in finance. This included how to overcome the challenges of navigating corporate life as a female professional.

Bill and I want to help other people and education is what gets you to a different plane. I believe in supporting people monetarily when it actually helps them get to a better place – not when it just binds them to the circumstances they’re stuck in.

Buck's career journey has taught her valuable lessons that she shares with new graduates:

  1. Respect Everyone: “Treat everybody with respect,” she emphasizes. “The entry-level employees are the ones that get the stuff done. If you encourage and talk with them, when they see something that doesn’t pass the sniff test, they’ll tell you before it becomes a nuclear fire.”
  2. Stay Financially Flexible: “Save enough money to stay flexible in your career,” she advises. “If somebody asks you to do something that you know is wrong, you can quickly move on. It happens more than you think.”

Reflecting on her career, she noted that opportunities for women have significantly expanded since she entered the workforce. “Education is the key to continued progress,” she believes, and she remains committed to helping others achieve their dreams.

With her parents aging, Buck next stepped in to run their two-family businesses, commuting back to the Pittsburgh area for the next 10 years, only recently selling after their passing.

Since their retirement, the couple have enjoyed a variety of hobbies, including extensive travel from Africa to Italy, gardening, and dance.