Wesner, Alexa Lange, 1972-

Alexa Lange Wesner (born 1972) is an American philanthropist, entrepreneur, and diplomat. She notably served as U.S. Ambassador to Austria (2013-2017).

Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Reston, Virginia, Wesner graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Biology. She began her career in technology by moving to Austin, Texas to join Trilogy Software. Three years later, she founded HireTECH, a recruiting and consulting company focused on high-tech start-ups, also serving as President and CEO. In 2000, she started Recruiting Labs, a web-based recruiting venture.

In 2009, Wesner founded Be One Texas, The Texas Civic Engagement Table, Engage Texas, Progress Texas, and the Texas Research Institute, all designed to build lasting progressive infrastructure in Texas. The spectrum of activities spanned civic engagement, organizational collaboration, voter empowerment, voter turn-out, primary research and both direct and collaborative messaging. Her ambitious efforts earned support from various national foundations and unions, among others.

Wesner was also the founder of Blue Texas, a general purpose PAC to help restore a Democratic majority to the Texas State Legislature.

Wesner was an early supporter of Barack Obama’s Senate campaign and later joined his National Finance Committee for President. She was appointed to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 2009. In 2013, President Obama appointed Wesner as the U.S. Ambassador to Austria and she served in that capacity until 2017. At the end of her term, the Austrian government awarded her the “Grand Decoration in Gold with Sash”, the highest decoration for services to the country a non-national can receive.

Ambassador Wesner has served on the boards of Lifeworks, Breakthrough, Arthouse, The Blanton Museum of Art, GenAustin, and the Austin Film Society. She has also served on the board of advisors of the Austin Museum of Art, and the Downtown Austin Alliance’s Parks Committee. She currently serves on the board of the Salzburg Global Seminar, a think tank; is Chairperson of the Friends of the Salzburg Festival Society, and is a limited partner in several start-ups.