What Does Barbara Pierce Bush Do at the NBA? About Her Job
Here's everything to know about Jenna Bush Hager's twin sister.
Barbara Pierce Bush just wrapped up her TODAY with Jenna & Friends guest co-host duties alongside her twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager, so we think it's the perfect time to dive deep into who she is when she's not (jokingly) throwing her sister under the bus for not inviting her to parties.
Above all else, Barbara prides herself on caring about social issues, and her amazing job with the NBA reflects that!
What is Barbara Pierce Bush's current job?
In 2023, after working closely with the NBA, the league announced that Barbara was promoted to lead its social responsibility department, with a mission of "helping oversee initiatives surrounding racial justice, public service, health matters including mental health, community partnerships and more."
Officially, she is the NBA's Vice President of Social Impact — and nobody is better suited for the position than Barbara!
"I believe in the same values as the NBA, which is why I chose to work here," Bush said in an interview with The Associated Press (per NBCDFW). "And the work is what matters to me. If that does mean, you know, sometimes being out there within my comfort level, that's OK with me. It's not about me. The NBA, we're using all the resources that we have to create awe-inspiring moments for people to come together when we're in sort of a loneliness crisis. That is meaningful to me."
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Of course, being so closely involved with the NBA (which returns to NBC this fall!) means she was bound to form a friendship with one or two of the league's biggest stars — just as she did with retired legend Dwyane Wade.
As revealed during the March 10 episode of TODAY with Jenna & Friends, Wade and Barbara became instant besties after first meeting earlier this year in San Francisco!
What did Barbara Pierce Bush do before her job with the NBA?
Just like her twin sister, Barbara cares deeply about equality, justice, and global health, and her impressive resume reflects that.
Before her position at the NBA, Barbara was executive-in-residence at venture firm Schmidt Futures. She's also worked for the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, the National Design Museum, and the Red Cross Children's Hospital in South Africa.
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Barbara is also a co-founder and board member of Global Health Corps (GHC), which mobilizes young leaders to create change and solve the world's biggest health issues.
How many books has Barbara Pierce Bush written?
Believe it or not, Barbara has penned five books with her twin sister! In a January 2025 PEOPLE interview, Hager revealed that their upbringing had a lot to do with the women loving to read at an early age.
"Both of my grandmothers, whom [sister Barbara and I] were named after, there was a certain importance that they had in our lives, and they were huge readers," Hager explained. "I mean, my grandmother, Barbara Bush, had a sewn, needle-pointed pillow on her couch that said, 'Reading is sexy.' Which I've remade and put on my couch."
These are the books Barbara has co-authored with her sister:
- Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life (2018)
- Sisters First (2019)
- The Superpower Sisterhood (2022)
- Love Comes First (2023)
- I Loved You First (2025)
While Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life is technically a memoir — and a must-read — the sisters' last four books are all children's books, which means they're fully illustrated and perfect for kids and adults alike!
I Loved You First was just released, and it's already a hit. The sisters are currently in the middle of a lightning-quick nationwide book tour supporting their #1 New York Times best-selling book, which Hager announced during the December 9, 2024, edition of TODAY.
Plus, tune in to NBC this fall for the long-awaited return of the NBA on NBC for the 2025-2026 season!
