Janet Bashen
Janet Bashen
Bashen Corporation is a consulting group dedicated to investigating Equal Employment Opportunity complaints. She is best known for creating LinkLine software application as an aid in EEO investigations and claim tracking.
As her business expanded, she recognized the need for an easier way to store data related to her cases. Working alongside Donnie Moore – a Tufts University computer science graduate – they created LinkLine as case management software.
Early Life and Education
Janet Emerson Bashen was born February 12th 1957 in Mansfield Ohio. She is a business consultant and the first African American female inventor to hold a software patent for LinkLine – an EEO investigations tool developed online.
In 1994, Bashen used $5,000 from her mother to launch her own company that specialized in investigating Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints filed with them and providing HR departments with advice to avoid expensive discrimination lawsuits.
Bashen demonstrates strong community commitment by serving on the boards for both the North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Foundation and National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. She also chairs their corporate advisory board and serves on PrepProgram’s board, a nonprofit that prepares at-risk student athletes for college admission.
Professional Career
Janet Rita Emerson Bashen is an American inventor and business consultant best known for patenting LinkLine, an EEO software suite used for job opportunity investigations, equalizing work environments and tracking complaints. She was honored as an honoree at the Black Inventors Hall of Fame as well as having written various industry articles and white papers about EEO practices. Janet currently sits on several boards including North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Foundation board; chairs the corporate advisory board of National Association of Negro Business Professional Women Clubs as corporate advisor; serves on North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Foundation board as well as being on its board Advisory board as well as PrepProgram which prepares at-risk students for college entrance exams.
Since 1994, she has worked to enhance EEO initiatives at both private companies and federal agencies. Her company investigates discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and attempts to find solutions through education, mediation or policy changes that might prevent costly litigation proceedings.
Achievement and Honors
Janet Rita Emerson Bashen is an American inventor and business consultant best known for her innovative patenting of LinkLine software designed to assist with web-based Equal Employment Opportunity investigations. As the first African-American woman ever to patent such an app, Janet has made history as the pioneering female innovator.
Bashen was raised in Mansfield, Ohio as the daughter of a garbage collector and first black woman emergency room nurse; both members worked class families. She attended segregated elementary schools until moving with her family to Huntsville Alabama for higher education opportunities.
Bashen earned her BA in legal studies and government from the University of Houston, and completed postgraduate work at Rice University’s Graduate School of Administration as well as Harvard University. She founded and currently leads The Bashen Corporation – a private consulting group dedicated to investigating Equal Employment Opportunity complaints under Title VII.
Personal Life
Danny Green is an NBA basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers who has earned two championship titles. Additionally, he is known as an accomplished entrepreneur and businessman and regularly posts pictures of himself with wife Blair Bashen on Instagram.
Bashen is not only an entrepreneur but also an inventor; her software invention, LinkLine, aids Equal Employment Opportunity investigations and claims tracking. She holds a patent on it.
Bashen was raised in Mansfield, Ohio as a working-class family with her father working as a garbage collector and her mother as an emergency room nurse. She attended Alabama A&M – an historic black college and university located near Huntsville in Alabama – before going on to University of Houston to earn degrees in legal studies and government; postgraduate studies were also completed at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Administration as well as Harvard’s Women and Power program.
Net Worth
As an accomplished entrepreneur, Bashen’s net worth is estimated to be in the millions. Her career has earned her much acclaim and awards such as Houston 100 (1999, 2000 and 2002) and Pinnacle Award from Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.
She has testified before Congress on discrimination investigations, while her invention of LinkLine, an innovative software program used to assist web-based Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) investigations, made her the first African American woman to earn a patent for computer software tools.
She is married to NBA player Danny Green, a three-time championship winner with both San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. They’re an active couple on social media who regularly post photos together.