Reflecting on 20 Years of Advocating for Change

I first discovered my passion for advancing women’s leadership in college. During my sophomore year, I took a course on Women in Politics taught by Dr. Robert Williams, now Chair of the Political Science Division at Pepperdine University. That class didn’t just inform me—it activated something. It sharpened my instinct for advocacy and deepened my commitment to building a world where women’s contributions and perspectives are fully recognized.

It was in that moment I began to understand the broader arc of the women’s movement—both in the U.S. and globally—and the courage of the trailblazers who pushed forward, often against tremendous odds. Their stories didn’t feel distant; they felt like a call to action.

That inspiration led me to co-found Running Start with my friend Susannah Wellford to expand young women’s engagement in politics. One of my favorite memories from those early days is standing alongside Susannah and Liz Berry—now a State Representative in Washington—at the White House in 2010. We were invited to honor Women’s History Month and hear President Obama speak about women’s rights. It was a full-circle moment that reinforced the power of showing up and doing the work.

Over the past twenty years, we’ve seen meaningful progress. Conversations around women’s leadership have become more mainstream. Movements like #MeToo exposed long-standing inequities and sparked global dialogue. More women have stepped into positions of power across politics and business. In the boardroom, where I spend much of my time, the percentage of women directors has grown significantly in a relatively short period.

And yet, there is still more to do.

So the question becomes: how do we keep this momentum alive?

For me, it comes down to a few core commitments:

• Integrate advocacy into everyday leadership. Even when it’s not the central focus of your work, advancing women’s leadership should be a consistent thread in how we lead, hire, mentor, and make decisions.

• Elevate those breaking the mold. We need to continue spotlighting women across industries who are challenging norms and leading with fresh perspectives.

• Shape the next generation. As a mom of two young children, I think often about how we model equity, ambition, and respect—and how early those lessons take root.

• Take action, big and small. Advocacy doesn’t always require a grand stage. Sometimes it looks like hosting a fundraiser, supporting a candidate, or opening a door for someone else. (In April, I’m hosting a Vote Mama fundraiser to support moms running for office—because representation matters.)

  
  

At times, the challenges in front of us can feel overwhelming. I hear people say they’re not sure how to step in or where to start. But change rarely begins with sweeping gestures—it starts with small, intentional actions. And over time, those actions build into something much bigger.

That’s how progress happens. And that’s how we keep moving forward.