Susan Loconto Penta, CWE Board Chair
Midior Consulting

Susan Loconto Penta is a Cofounder and Managing Partner at MIDIOR Consulting where she oversees the delivery of consulting services. With 25 years of experience as a management consultant, entrepreneur, senior executive and engineer, Susan is able to achieve dramatic results for her global clients by leveraging the disciplines of product development and product management to improve their financial performance.

Susan has authored numerous articles on product development, entrepreneurship and innovation. Susan is an Adjunct Faculty member of Northeastern University’s College of Business and the University’s Executive Education program where she teaches courses in entrepreneurship and new product development. Susan has received multiple awards including the “40 under 40” award by the Boston Business Journal and the Ichabod Washburn Young Alumni Award for Professional Achievement from WPI.

Susan is an active supporter of non-profit organizations with a particular focus on education and entrepreneurship for disadvantaged populations. In addition to the Center for Women & Enterprise, she is Treasurer and Trustee for Belmont Day School, Trustee and Past Chair of Schools for Children. Susan has recently retired from her service as a director of the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) as well as from her role as President of the New England PDMA chapter. Susan is a founding board member for WPI’s Collaborative for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and serves as Program Committee Chair for WPI’s Department of Management Advisory Council.

Susan holds a BSEE degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from The CASS Business School in London, England. An aspiring chef, Susan lives in Belmont, MA with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Why CWE? Because growing up, I had great role models and fans in my parents and while at that time they could not “buy” me an education, a career or my financial independence, they encouraged me to follow my passion, assured me that I could achieve my goals. They gave me the confidence and emotional support structure to take the necessary risks and do it for myself.  CWE provides this same backdrop for women who may not have enough support or advantage to achieve their financial independence and for me, the best way to say thanks is to give back.