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Earnestine Benford ’79

Alumnae Association Board of Directors

Vision: To live a life that prioritizes service. 

Earnestine Benford is the Director of Strategic Research at Zeitgeist Research, a boutique agency dedicated to equipping organizations with the ability to solve challenging consumer-centric questions that drive growth. 

She is a seasoned global business leader. Her corporate career spanned over twenty-five years and includes holding senior-level roles with Fortune 100 companies e.g. The Coca-Cola Company, Sara Lee Corporation, and Disney Consumer Products. She successfully led initiatives in brand management, consumer insights, strategy, market segmentation, and innovation that made a significant impact in achieving overall goals and business objectives. 

Earnestine has always been committed to improving the community through building capacity to achieve goals within professional organizations and serving in non-profits.  She currently serves as a Teaching Leader in Bible Study Fellowship and supports the efforts of The American Lung Association in the areas of advocacy and fundraising.    

She considers herself a “global citizen” having traveled to over 20 countries which has enriched her life immeasurably.  To live abroad is on her bucket list.

Earnestine went on to receive her MBA in Finance from Washington University, St. Louis MO.

About Earnestine

Director, 2022–26
Panama City, Panama