I stand for the restoration of gender equity and the elimination of social, economic and environmental cruelty. I’ve had the privilege to live and travel across this land, learning the thousands of different ways there are to be an American. The American Dream I grew up with and that we inherited, no longer fits the scope and grandeur of who we can become as a nation. Our diversity is our greatest strength. I envision a world where women are looked up to as business, political, community and spiritual leaders. A world where our humanity and dignity take precedent, and drive our greatness so that America can cultivate and exemplify the potential and possibility in education, health care, government, commerce and human relationships.
Vision
I envision a world where women are looked up to as business, political, community and spiritual leaders.
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Growing up a Military Brat, I considered myself a citizen of the world, and a true American. My loyalties were to my family, country, and to the San Francisco 49ers. I was never rooted in one place, in one community. In our doorway, we had a hand painted welcome sign that read “home is where the Army sends us,” and in little wooden hearts attached to it were all the different places my family had lived. “Community” wasn’t where I was from. It was the relationships I built around me every day.
Change and diversity became my lifestyle as we moved from sea to shining sea. I got to intimately know the soul of this country. As I did, three things stood out to me... |
OneWe are capable of anything we put our hearts and minds to.
From San Francisco, to Clarksville, to West Point, Americans love to dream, and love creating solutions to impossible problems.
We rise to the occasion, innovate and find joy in coming together. Our tendency toward hope and perseverence are a source of inspiration. |
TwoWomen are the greatest source of strength and power I have ever seen.
From Army wives, to doctors, their ability to serve and lead in their home and public lives is remarkable. Their determination, resilience and love is unmatched. I learned this first and foremost from my mother Lisa, and from her mother Olga – a brave immigrant and entrepreneur.
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ThreeThere is a critical lack of representation of women in leadership positions.
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There wasn’t one moment in my story that that led me to run for office, rather it was my life’s journey as a whole. When I looked around at every twist and turn of my life, every trial and triumph, in every city and in every field, I saw people making decisions for me that didn’t represent me.
Growing up I noticed the lack of female generals in the Army, priests in the church, and professors. When I coached NCAA volleyball I reflected back on a time when I idolized John Wooden and Michael Jordan because there weren’t yet women coaches and professional athletes for me to look up to. Over my 15 year career in leadership and organizational development training and consulting I noticed a lack of women Executive Directors in nonprofits, doctors in health care, and principals in schools across the country. I noticed the lack of women in the arts and entertainment industries.
Then I looked at our public servants and continued to notice a gap. It’s no wonder women aren’t represented in leadership roles. While the gender gap is a complex issue, it boils down to one simple statement for me: the system wasn’t designed for or by women.
Decision-makers didn’t know what it was like to wear pantyhose, deflect street harassment daily, and be told their body didn’t belong to them. They hadn’t been told to be submissive, humble, and polite their entire lives. They didn’t fully understand my needs and they didn’t know what it was like to walk in my shoes. They weren’t building systems, organizations and communities that would serve MY interests as a queer woman of color.
Growing up I noticed the lack of female generals in the Army, priests in the church, and professors. When I coached NCAA volleyball I reflected back on a time when I idolized John Wooden and Michael Jordan because there weren’t yet women coaches and professional athletes for me to look up to. Over my 15 year career in leadership and organizational development training and consulting I noticed a lack of women Executive Directors in nonprofits, doctors in health care, and principals in schools across the country. I noticed the lack of women in the arts and entertainment industries.
Then I looked at our public servants and continued to notice a gap. It’s no wonder women aren’t represented in leadership roles. While the gender gap is a complex issue, it boils down to one simple statement for me: the system wasn’t designed for or by women.
Decision-makers didn’t know what it was like to wear pantyhose, deflect street harassment daily, and be told their body didn’t belong to them. They hadn’t been told to be submissive, humble, and polite their entire lives. They didn’t fully understand my needs and they didn’t know what it was like to walk in my shoes. They weren’t building systems, organizations and communities that would serve MY interests as a queer woman of color.
I want to build systems that invite, welcome and support women to thrive.
Because when women thrive, we all thrive.
Because when women thrive, we all thrive.
While there is a great deal to feel grateful and hopeful for in this world, there is also a great deal of work to do. From climate change and infrastructure, to racial equity and education women must be represented. This is nonnegotiable.
The world is far from perfect, but I am in love with it nonetheless. I am in love with every flaw, every failure and every moment when we must grieve and start over. I am in love with the vision, commitment and resilience that gets us up every single day in an effort to make this world a little bit better for us now, and for our children.
We face many complicated and messy challenges ahead, but we harbor the unlimited strength, courage and potential to transform our world into the one we want to see. I’ve learned, having lived and worked around our great nation, that our differences are our strengths, not in lip service but in our daily actions. I insist on an equal seat at the table for every woman to fulfill her life’s purpose, leadership and passion. I have and will continue to work for the representation of women in every field and every profession.
The world is far from perfect, but I am in love with it nonetheless. I am in love with every flaw, every failure and every moment when we must grieve and start over. I am in love with the vision, commitment and resilience that gets us up every single day in an effort to make this world a little bit better for us now, and for our children.
We face many complicated and messy challenges ahead, but we harbor the unlimited strength, courage and potential to transform our world into the one we want to see. I’ve learned, having lived and worked around our great nation, that our differences are our strengths, not in lip service but in our daily actions. I insist on an equal seat at the table for every woman to fulfill her life’s purpose, leadership and passion. I have and will continue to work for the representation of women in every field and every profession.
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I want you to join me in building a world where women aren’t afraid to negotiate, where we have more important things to do than defend our credibility, and where being liked and being competent aren’t antithetical. It’s a world where women aren’t second guessed, discredited or patronized because of their gender, skin color, beliefs or sexuality. It’s a world without a glass ceiling, without perfection, and one where we work in true partnership with one another.
I will fight to build a world where women get to lead like women, where their voices not only matter but are revered. Where you can let your guard down, you can feel confident, and your tireless contributions are celebrated. It’s a world where decision-makers design cars, health care, child care policy, movies, makeup, phones and for goodness sake, bathrooms with women in mind. |
I am running so that together, we can build a world where women are looked up to as business, political, community and spiritual leaders, from coast to coast.
