Linda Zecher
Linda Zecher Higgins (born May 4, 1953) is an American executive who is the managing director of The Barkley Group since January 2017. She most recently served as the president, CEO and director of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a global education and learning company. In the past she had worked as the corporate vice president of the Microsoft Worldwide Public Sector business unit until September 2011. Additionally she had served as the president and CEO of Evolve Corporation, as the senior vice president of Oracle, as a very early vice president of PeopleSoft, and in several senior positions in Bank of America. She began her career as a geophysicist with Texas Instruments. Early life and education Zecher was born in Middletown, Ohio, as one of two children. Her mother was a homemaker and her father was self-made. From 1971, Zecher studied earth science at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1975. During her college years she had a non-typical job working at the county jail. Career Early leadership positions Following field experience as a geophysicist with Texas Instruments in Midland, Texas she joined Bank of America as the vice president of the Business Services division. During