St. Louis Business 500: Q&A with Betsy Cohen, St. Louis Mosaic Project

Betsy Cohen’s task is a big one: She’s looking to reverse the city’s population loss, the scourge of the region for the better part of a century. Growing the number of St. Louisans is a two-way street, she says. It’s crucial to educate new Americans about why St. Louis is an appealing place not only to go to university but also to live, work, and build a family. At the same time, local employers need to be educated about how to hire internationally. (Note: In early 2025, Cohen joined the national consultancy FutureGood as a philanthropic futurist, and Suzanne Sierra was named executive director of the St. Louis Mosaic Project.) Read on.