Mary Valerie Biden Owens (born November 5, 1945) is an American political strategist, campaign manager, former educator, and author, best known as the younger sister and longtime political advisor to Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States. Growing up in a close-knit Irish Catholic family in Wilmington, Delaware, after moving from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Owens has played a pivotal role in her brother's political career from its inception, managing all seven of his successful U.S. Senate campaigns and serving as campaign manager for his presidential runs—becoming the first woman in U.S. history to lead a presidential campaign. She has held executive roles including 20 years as Executive Vice President of Joe Slade White & Co., a political media consulting firm, and co-founded the Owens-Patrick seminar group, through which she teaches leadership and communication seminars worldwide. Owens has been deeply involved in education and public service, serving as Chair of the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, on the advisory board of the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children, and as a Resident Fellow at Harvard's Institute of Politics. In 2016, President Barack Obama nominated her as the U.S. alternate representative to the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Forbes recognized her in 2021 as one of the 50 Over 50 women leading in impact through advocacy and education. She is married to attorney and businessman Jack Owens, has three children, and authored the memoir 'Growing Up Biden.' Owens has advocated for women's political participation, trained women organizers with Women's Campaign International, served over 30 years on the board of The Ministry of Caring aiding the homeless in Delaware, and held board roles at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Policy Institute, maintaining a profound personal bond with her brother as advisor and confidante.