It’s Time: Leading Woman Award Winner Lynda Carter on The Future Of Equity and Power
Lynda Carter (L) and Gloria Feldt at the Power Up Concert event in the Kennedy Center in Washington,D.C.*
Very few people could ever fill her red and white leather high-heeled boots, and Lynda Carter herself has achieved far more than her fictional character of Wonder Woman ever could. Even with the starred crown.
As the recipient of Take The Lead’s Leading Woman Award at the 2024 Power Up Concert & Conference on Women’s Equality Day in Washington, D.C., Carter eloquently demonstrates she is the role model for leadership that many generations of women and girls have always needed.
“It’s less about superpowers and more about heart, intellect, a sense of importance and courage with a goodness in her,” said Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead at the fifth annual event celebrating 10 years of Take The Lead’s mission and work. “She is so much more than the character she is known for.”
Speaking at a packed Terrace Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts at the event themed, “Together We Lead,” Feldt said, "You’ve probably heard the saying that If you can’t see it you can’t be it. That’s not entirely true of course. Because sometimes there has to be a role model who has seen beyond the boundaries of what is to the possibilities of what can be. “
Feldt continued, “When we founded Take The Lead with the mission of gender parity in leadership by 2025, many people said they couldn’t see that happening. Yet what tremendous advances have we seen for women—parity in athletes at the Olympics and what seems to be the almost complete normalization of women running for office including for president, for just two examples.”
I believe that ability to see beyond the present to a more just world is at the heart of the enduring love we have for the character of Wonder Woman, so memorably played by Lynda Carter. "
““You’ve probably heard the saying that If you can’t see it you can’t be it. That’s not entirely true... Sometimes there has to be a role model who has seen beyond the boundaries of what is to the possibilities of what can be.”— @GloriaFeldt1 #womeninleadership”
Introducing Carter as the actor, musician, producer, philanthropist, director, performer, and social justice advocate she has been since her role as Wonder Woman in the 1970s, Feldt said, “We have all been inspired by that character who saw a better world and a better way for women.”
Read more in Take The Lead on Lynda Carter
Addressing the young women in the multi-generational audience, Carter said, “Right now, we feel it in the air. This is the time for you—all these beautiful young faces.” Referencing the recent first-ever candidacy of a Black, South-Asian woman running for president: Kamala Harris, Carter said, “After a long winter of chaos and darkness, there is finally light—because of women. And we won’t go back.”
““After a long winter of chaos and darkness, there is finally #light—because of #women. And we won’t go back.” — @RealLyndaCarter”
Earlier at the event, Felicia Davis, CEO & Founder of the Black Women’s Collective; Laura Vega, Take The Lead Conference co-chair, Board Vice-Chair, Associate General Council, and Senior Director of Legal Affairs at MicroVention; and Dr. Nancy O’Reilly; former board chair, presenting sponsor, philanthropist, and founder of Women Connect 4Good announced two of the Power Tool Award Winners.
Read more from Gloria Feldt on the Power Up Concert
With the goal of leadership parity across all sectors by 2025 as the mission for Take The Lead, Vega said, “We see it here and we feel it.”
O’Reilly agreed. As she has been on the board of Take the Lead since its inception in 2015, she said, “The mission is women supporting other women.” As it aligns closely with her own foundation, O’Reilly said, “Our community contributes to grow with our partnership. This is a special time for women right now.”
““The mission of @Takeleadwomen is women #supporting other women.” — @DrNancyOReilly #genderparity #womenequality”
As the force behind the Power Tool Awards at the Power Up Conference, Davis said, “This is such an amazing moment in time and it is an honor to so many women doing so many amazing things.”
Dena Patton, entrepreneur, co-founder, and program creator of Girls Rule Foundation, accepted the Wear The Shirt Power Tool award as a truth seeker. A graduate of the first 50 Women Can Change The World in Nonprofits cohort, Patton said, “This award is so important. So many women and girls say they don’t deserve the award, the dream, the presidency.”
Having founded her non-profit 14 years ago in Phoenix, and suspending it during COVID, she has relaunched a larger multi-state endeavor.
Read more in Take The Lead on 10 years
Juliana Andujo won the Movement Maker Award, as she mobilized Amazon workers by establishing a Phoenix Women’s Leadership chapter with 140 members and launched a Breast Cancer Walk that resulted in 700 people raising $15,000.
“I mobilize leaders to drive lasting impact,” Andujo said. “Girls with dreams become women with vision.”
Kathleen Turner, actor, philanthropist and winner of last year’s Wear The Shirt Award presented Aly Palmer, singer, songwriter, artist, and activist the Power Tool Award, Wear The Shirt, on behalf of the trio, BETTY, that performed at the concert.
“Tonight I have the honor to present this award,” Turner said. “To an individual and to an extraordinary trio that exemplifies those who wear the shirt of their convictions,” Turner said. “That is what we call ‘The BETTY effect.’” Palmer, Elizabeth Ziff, and Amy Ziff are members of the band who create music celebrating joy, love, longing, and humanity.
To great applause, Turner added, “You are all committed shirt wearers and we love you and honor you.”
Read more in Take the Lead on the new Power Tools online course
After hearing the winners’ comments, Carter said, “Women’s stories matter. Stories have the power to set us free.”
““Women’s stories matter. Stories have the power to set us free.” — @RealLyndaCarter #womensempowerment #womensequalityday”
Recalling the era when Wonder Woman was enormously popular and feminism was forming as a movement in this country, Carter said, “It is happening in your space just as it happened with me in my time. In the time of Diana Prince we were celebrating liberation and were faced with the choices of freedom vs. oppression.”
As this moment in history confronts a rollback of women’s reproductive rights and health choices, Carter said, “For some the idea of a woman’s freedom is a threat to be confronted.” She added, “It’s medieval, malicious and malevolent. But on the horizon is hope, joy, and the opportunity to create a culture of respect. It starts with us.”
““For some the idea of a woman’s #freedom is a threat to be confronted.” — @RealLyndaCarter #womensrights #reproductiverights #womenhealth #prochoice”
Noting the attendance of men and women in the audience, Carter acknowledged the support many men offer women in pursuit of their leadership and career goals. “No one is superior to the other,” Carter said.
“Leadership begins by having a vision, and we can clearly see an America where we are free,” Carter said. “I am so grateful and ready to get to work. I hope we all rise up and take the lead and vote, vote, vote.”
““I hope we all rise up, take the lead and vote, vote, vote.” — @RealLyndaCarter #2024election #votingmatters #womensrights #genderparity #democracy”
**The Power Up Conference & Concert is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.
Leadership Takeaway of The Week:
“You’ve probably heard the saying that if you can’t see it you can’t be it. That’s not entirely true of course. Because sometimes there has to be a role model who has seen beyond the boundaries of what is to the possibilities of what can be.”
Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead
