Megan Burke

Megan Burke

Chief of Staff, NYC Department of Small Business Services

Age: 26

Place of Birth: Pennsylvania

Where you live: Brooklyn

First Job: Waitress at a pizza parlor called Antonio’s

What it taught me: Having a positive attitude goes a long way.

Status: Single

Three things people would be surprised to know about me:

1. I set the indoor pole vaulting record at my college.

2. I lived in Edinburgh, Scotland.

3. I grew up in a very small town in Pennsylvania, not far from Amish country.

Best advice you could give someone starting out: This took me too long to learn: Speak up. Ask questions. You may be younger with less formal experience than your colleagues, but your insights and ideas are valuable. Your contributions will make both your team and your work product stronger.

Megan Burke serves as the Chief of Staff at the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Raised in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, she attended Dickinson College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with her BA in Law and Policy. She has worked at SBS since 2007 in a variety of roles: Deputy Chief of Staff, Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner and Strategic Planning Analyst. Previously, Megan worked for the Scottish Parliament and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. She also mentors first-generation college students through a program called New York Needs You.