BERNIE DIXON

Bernie Dixon has been crushing boundaries her entire life. She launched her career in the US Army Signal Corps where she was among the first class of women earning a commission as a US Army officer. She quickly moved through positions in the Signal Corps while simultaneously training in Field Artillery and nine other weapon systems. Her Army career culminated in her service as an Aide-de-Camp to a three-star general, Director, Defense Information Systems Agency while supporting the needs of the White House and State Department. Upon departing the US Army, she served as a national security and emergency preparedness consultant with Booz Allen & Hamilton supporting the Presidential Advisory Committee for National Security and Telecommunications, and other high-level government organizations.

Over the next two decades, Bernie went on to shatter glass ceilings and walls as she climbed the ranks of some of the world’s largest technology, aerospace and defense companies. Among other positions, while at United Technology Corporation, she served as the Chief Information Officer of Hamilton Standard and the Chief Information Officer of Carrier Corporation. She continued her executive role while at Raytheon Corporation and served as Enterprise Chief Information Officer. Bernie’s corporate career culminated in her role at HP as Vice President, HP Services, Americas.

As a tireless advocate for women and minority entrepreneurs, women in leadership, business and in the entrepreneurial space, Dixon went on to serve as the first female Chairman and President of The Atlanta Technology Angels. Simultaneously she founded Launchpad2X, “the nation’s only founder-to-CEO accelerator and training organization focused on women founders and CEOs” where her impact is pronounced in the success of over 200 female led companies and their economic impact. She continues to serve as Chairman of Launchpad2X.

Bernie continues to advise venture capital firms in the areas of aerospace and defense, and technology: TFX Capital and Forte Ventures. Additionally, she has advised or served on the Boards of numerous technology companies. She is continually identified as one of Atlanta’s Top 500 “most powerful leaders.” She serves on the Board of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Board of Directors of the Women’s Entrepreneur’s Initiative for the City of Atlanta and the Women Lead Policy Council for the State of Georgia. She often acts as a judge for business competitions and serves as a judge for EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Bernie graduated summa cum laude from the Penn State University and also attended the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

Dixon is a sought-after speaker on topics surrounding early stage investing and entrepreneurship. She is often heard to say, “I have had tremendous opportunities in my life to serve my country and to accomplish large scale impact in my Corporate career. The most personally rewarding work I have done is supporting and assisting in the success of hundreds of entrepreneurs. Those hundreds of entrepreneurs are the engine powering the USA economy.”