Alexis Herman served in the Clinton administration as secretary of labor (1997-2001) and assistant to the President and director of the White House Public Liaison Office (1993-1997). Herman also served as deputy undersecretary of labor and director of the Women's Bureau in the Carter administration (1977-1981). 

Herman was born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1947 and earned her bachelor's degree from Xavier University in 1969. After completing college, she was an outreach worker, from 1969 to 1972, with Catholic Social Services/Recruitment & Training Programs, Inc. From 1972 to 1974, she was director of the Black Women Employment Program of the Southern Regional Council. She continued to do consulting work for Recruitment & Training Programs, Inc. (1973-1974) before rejoining that organization as national director of women's programs (1974-1977).

Herman worked as vice president of Green, Herman & Associates from 1981 to 1985. She then formed her own consulting firm, A. M. Herman & Associates, and served as president from 1985 to 1993. From 1989 to 1991, she was chief of staff of the Democratic National Committee.