Esther George

Esther George spent more than 40 years at the Federal Reserve, shaping US monetary policy and guiding the financial system through some of its most critical moments.

Growing up on her family farm in Faucett, Missouri, George quickly learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and community. Summers spent cutting weeds and tending crops left a lasting impression and helped shape her approach to challenges later in life. A student exchange programme in France broadened her horizons and kindled an early interest in international banking at a time when few women pursued the field. When she joined the Kansas City Fed in 1982 as a bank examiner, George brought with her the practical curiosity honed on the farm, learning to navigate complex financial systems by observing, listening, and connecting policy to real-world communities and businesses.

Over the decades, Esther George advanced through roles in bank supervision, research, human resources, and public affairs, eventually becoming president of the Kansas City Fed and a member of the Federal Open Market Committee. Known for her independence of mind, she played a central role in shaping US monetary policy, modernising payment systems through FedNow, and promoting diversity and inclusion in economics. Under her leadership, the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium saw a significant rise in female economists, a development widely recognised as the “Esther effect.”

Esther George has always emphasised that economic policy must be grounded in reality. She continues to highlight the evolving challenges for businesses and households, noting how shifts in fiscal and monetary policy, technological change, and global dynamics are shaping the economic landscape. Her forward-looking vision reflects decades of experience in banking, regulation, and economic policy.

Beyond the Federal Reserve, George continues to operate her family farm and serves on boards including the Hallmark Corporation, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the Kansas City 2026 World Cup.