Lilly and Judy ✴️ Historic Calls to Action

What an amazing International Women’s Day 2025 I was privileged to experience! It was equal measure inspiring celebrations of women’s progress and passionate calls to action to change the state of the world for women, where rights won are being lost and many protections of equal treatment are being erased a warp speed.

The two events I attended both received well deserved standing ovations.

That’s because of the way each exemplified progress is possible through struggle and movement building. And each illustrated a poignant reminder that no step forward is forever unless there is constant activism.

Don’t Get Mad: Keys to Calm Negotiating With Tough Partners for Your Win

A newly pervasive culture of shouting matches at school board meetings, city council meetings, citizen meetings with elected officials, youth sports, union meetings, public protests, board meetings, diplomacy meetings and even televised negotiations from the Oval Office have all normalized yelling, name-calling and bullying.

But this behavior is neither normal nor productive. So how do you change the momentum of the moment when you are in a work environment and someone shouts, yells, screams or causes chaos to erupt?

Happy Women’s History Month?

On the third day of #womenshistorymonth, I’m reflecting on promises fulfilled and unfulfilled of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. I attended it in Beijing in 1995.

I was in the room where it happened 30 years ago. Two rooms where it happened, actually.

The experience was life changing. World changing. But that was then.

Gender Parity, The SumGloria FeldtMarch 3, 2025womens leadership, womens history month, gender parity, diversity, leadershipComment

Making History: 10 Black Women Leaders Inspire With Advice, Purpose, Action

At the close of Black History Month, which began in 1915 in this country, and was made into law in 1986, Take The Lead salutes 10 Black women leaders across industries and influence. Diving into their contributions and keen advice for leaders today, there is so much wisdom to glean that moves far past one month of the year. And into forever.

In spite of Google eliminating its visual salute to the month and the Department of Defense declaring it erased—as well as Women’s History Month and National Disability Employment Month—Take The Lead acknowledges the depth and breadth of Black women in business, entrepreneurship, education, media and all of American culture far past the calendar mont of the year.

Parity, Leadership/Political a...Michele WeldonFebruary 28, 2025gender parity, racial equity, womens leadership, women, leadership adviceComment

Action: Your Antidote to Anxiety and Other Ills

Madeleine moved to a new state with her husband who got a great job there, but she felt the loss of grounding without family and friends and the stimulation of a large city. She approached me to volunteer for Take The Lead and we began to work on a plan.

“I’m feeling alive again,” she said.

In our fast-paced, often overwhelming world, anxiety, fear, and depression can creep in like shadows at dusk — persistent, heavy, and seemingly insurmountable. Yet, hidden in the very act of taking a step forward is a powerful remedy. Action, even in its smallest form, can serve as the antidote to these pervasive feelings.

Learn & Earn: Stay Tuned to Economics Trends, Forecasts to Succeed as Leaders and Entrepreneurs

You cannot escape the impact economics has on every aspect of your life. Understanding the rapid changes today in employment trends, tariffs, labor, opportunities, consumer needs, inflation, behavioral economics as well as the laws of supply and demand in the U.S. and globally will make you a better leader and wiser entrepreneur.

“Economics has something to say about whatever you are talking about,” says Professor Kim Holder, managing director of the Center for Economics Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Finance/Money, Gender ParityMichele WeldonFebruary 21, 2025Economics, Gender Parity, Womens Leadership, EquityComment

Thank Heaven For 11: Take The Lead Celebrates 11 Years Working Toward Mission of Equity

Take The Lead is 11 years old this week on February 19. Eleven years ago, Gloria Feldt and Amy Litzenberger co-founded the organization with the bold mission of society reaching leadership gender parity across all sectors by 2025—this year.

For the past 11 years, Take The Lead has been working towards achieving gender and race equity in leadership across all sectors and industries. In that time, Take The Lead has been making enormous impact affecting hundreds of thousands of women in their careers and lives.

On Banning Ideas, Finding Your Tribe and Winning the Prize

Picture this: It is 1972. I am a student in a relatively progressive suburban public school system, one in which the chorus sang excerpts from “Hair,” (I still know all the words to “Age of Aquarius”), but Home Economics was only for girls and Wood Shop for boys.

Along comes a new magazine: Ms. It challenges the patriarchy and traditional roles. It shakes up the status quo. It does not conform to “expectations.”

Inspire: Take The Lead...Take The LeadFebruary 13, 2025Leadership, Gender Parity, Equality, Anniversary, Womens Equality, Ms. MagazineComment

Ragan Communications Announces Winners of its Video, Visual & Virtual Awards: Take The Lead Women Wins Interview/Q&A Category

Ragan Communications proudly unveils the winners of its Video, Visual & Virtual Awards, recognizing the most outstanding achievements in visual storytelling and virtual experiences across the communications, marketing and PR industries. These winners represent creative excellence in video production, design innovation and virtual event execution. Their work captivated audiences, elevated brand narratives and delivered results that advanced their organizations' or client's communications strategies.

Self-promotion, MediaTake The LeadFebruary 13, 2025Press Release, Gloria Steinem, Gloria Feldt, Gender Parity, AwardsComment

Know Your History: Kendrick Lamar Makes Legacy During Black History Month

It’s heresy, I know, but you don’t normally find me watching the Super Bowl.

However, dinner at a friend’s home during the annual Big Game was served around a television with the game on. It turns out I am glad.

Sorry, Kansas City Chiefs. Congratulations, Philadelphia Eagles. But thanks to you both for providing the perfect kickoff, as it were, for the connection to Black History Month.

The Sum, Change LeadershipGloria FeldtFebruary 11, 2025Black History Month, Leadership, Womens Leadership, Parity, Social JusticeComment

The Good, The Bad, and The Promising For Women in Generative AI Workforce

The historic and ongoing tech workforce gender gap is replicated in the Generative AI field, with the latest introduction of global giant DeepSeek competing with Chat GPT and other players. Today, only 22% of the AI workforce is women.

The possibility is that as GenAI expands its reach, access and innovation, the roles of women in AI leadership can blossom to equity.

Parity, Changing the WorkplaceMichele WeldonFebruary 7, 2025AI, Technology, Parity, Leadership, Womens LeadershipComment

How to Unlock Potential: The Key to Thriving Business Success

You are incredibly, beautifully diverse.

Think about it. A friend once observed to me that we are all made up of many tribes, each of which brings a piece of our identity to life.

How many tribes do you belong to? What characteristics of yourself do you identify with?

I didn’t always appreciate the richness of this concept, but over time, I’ve come to love and embrace the reality of the multifaceted elements that form the whole of who I am.

Change LeadershipGloria FeldtFebruary 3, 2025Leadership, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, DEIComment

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