Bibi Hidalgo is a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings Metro, and is focused on access to opportunity and prosperity.
Hidalgo was the first woman appointed by a president to serve as the associate administrator for government contracting and business development at the U.S. Small Business Administration, a role that has oversight of over $154 billion in small business procurement contracts and business regulations across 24 cabinet and federal agencies. She led the development of a series of historic, government-wide procurement reforms that were announced in December 2021. Prior to that, Hidalgo was appointed by President-elect Biden to lead small business government contracting review for the Biden-Harris transition team.
For several years, Hidalgo co-owned an advisory services firm with her younger brother and focused on providing support to corporations seeking to partner with innovative minority, women and veteran-owned firms. Hidalgo served at the White House with her brother under President Obama. As the senior advisor to the small business lead for the National Economic Council, she launched the first government-wide initiative to meet the congressionally mandated small and socio-economic contracting goals.
Hidalgo has also worked on local policy and mobilizing initiatives in several cities, including Baltimore, Md. and Miami, Fla.
Hidalgo and her son are big basketball fans, with her having served as assistant coach for his CYO team and having willingly cheered on the sidelines for his varsity high school team. In addition, Hidalgo enjoys playing guitar and being with her large extended family. Hidalgo dedicates her work to her little brother, best friend, and inspiration, who passed away in March of 2020.
Education
Hidalgo has a master of public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.