Celebrating women who blaze trails in our communities

Dr. Darienne D. Hudson, Ed.D

(she/her/hers)

President and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan

How has being a woman shaped your perspective as a leader?
I bring compassion, enthusiasm and a spirit of collaboration to the organizations that I have the privilege to lead. I am also relentless when it comes to driving impact and achieving results. I see being a woman as an incredible asset to leadership because I was born with the ability to nurture and give tough love when necessary.

As a Black woman CEO in my early 40s, it is important for me to lead with confidence and integrity, understanding that all too often I must work twice as hard to be considered half as qualified. I know personally that being “the first” comes with significant responsibility to ensure that others who come behind me will be given the same opportunities to lead.

What advice do you have for other current and aspiring women leaders?
The most important piece of advice I could give is to prioritize preventative self-care and work-life harmony. As I reflect on the choices I made earlier in my career, the job always came first, which had consequences for me later in life. Personal wellness is an essential component to being healthy and happy. The more we integrate self-care into our daily lives, the better chance we have of success.

It is also important to surround yourself with people who believe in you and believe in what is possible. I call them “the village.” Family, friends and mentors who pour love, courage and knowledge into you as you navigate life. I find that surrounding myself with like-minded people who have the same drive and motivation gives me the strength and resilience necessary to overcome barriers and accomplish my goals.

And lastly, no matter how far you go and how much you accomplish, it is essential to maintain a spirit of service and to bring other women leaders along as they begin their leadership journey.

Sarah Rosen Wartell

(she/her/hers)

Urban Institute, President

How has being a woman shaped your perspective as a leader?
I cannot say whether my leadership style is shaped by my gender or by my lived experience. I just try to do what seems to me to work. I try to encourage the creation of teams, rather than groups of rivals. I try to reward people for their collaborative efforts and breaking down silos within the workplace. When I make mistakes, I try to acknowledge them publicly, to model acceptance of errors and encourage innovation and risk-taking. And I try to lead by hearing lots of diverse perspectives before making a final choice. In short, I try to follow a model of inclusive leadership, and I am pleased to see more leaders trying to lead inclusively, regardless of gender.

What advice do you have for other current and aspiring women leaders?
It sounds so cliched, but it is simple: Just be yourself. For a long time, women leaders felt that they had to act like a stereotype of what a leader should be. But I believe we must be true to who we are. I cannot come to work each day without, for example, bringing with me my pride in my children and worries about a close friend’s illness. When women leaders are transparent about who they are, it permits others to bring their whole selves to work, too. And our work culture is enriched when everyone feels that their joys, passions and worries are welcome in the workplace.

Dr. Shelley Francis

(she/her)

EVHybridNoire, Co-founder and Executive Director

How has being a woman shaped your perspective as a leader?
At times it has opened doors because there were not enough women in the ecosystem or women of color leaders in the space — being one of a few women of color leaders in the space has definitely made me conscious of the role that I can play as a mentor to create a space and opportunities for more women, and women of color particularly to see that there is a space for them in this sector.

What advice do you have for other current and aspiring women leaders?
Learn to solve problems, be solution-oriented and be a fixer — every leader needs someone like this on their team.

Connect with women working in your field of interest, shadow them for the day — find out what some of the challenges, successes, and opportunities (for that role) look like.

If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring your own chair and if that space doesn’t feel right, create a whole new seat and table — we have to start using completely new paradigms to solve yesterday, today and tomorrow’s problems.

Torine Creppy

(she/her/ella)

Safe Kids Worldwide, President

How has being a woman shaped your perspective as a leader?
As a woman with aspirations to work hard and achieve a fulfilling career, I recognized my journey would be coupled with being a mother and wife. To find the balance, it was important to remember the attributes my mother instilled in me: strength, perseverance, adaptability, kindness, and empathy. I also try to use these qualities as a leader to support my colleagues. By showing people that I genuinely care about their lives as a whole, not just as a team member at Safe Kids, I’ve learned that they are appreciative, they work harder, more efficiently, and together, and the organization is stronger for it.

What are you most proud of that Safe Kids has created or achieved?
I am extremely proud of a relationship with General Motors that has lasted for almost 25 years. In that time, we have worked together to educate families and communities about child passenger safety. Many people may not know that General Motors has had a significant role in the growth of child passenger safety nationally and internationally in Brazil and China. It has been a privilege to build a program together that has made such a difference in the lives of so many families. We are working together for the future of our children, and there is no mission more important than that.