Women-in-Office-Next

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Founder’s

Founder’s Message -- March 2026

Why I Started Women in Office Next

After more than 25 years working in social services and health policy, I began to reflect on what I wanted to accomplish next. My career has spanned issues from biomedical research to healthcare access, financing care for rural communities, and addressing mental health and substance use challenges. Throughout that time, one thing remained constant: a deep commitment to improving public policy and the lives it shapes.

As I considered my next step, I thought about volunteering with organizations focused on issues I care deeply about. But I know myself—I would quickly start asking bigger questions about strategy, priorities, and long-term impact. I also struggled to choose just one issue, knowing that focusing narrowly would leave so many others unaddressed.

When half the population is not equally represented in leadership,
our policies cannot fully reflect the people they serve.

Over time, I came to understand that many of the challenges I care about share a common root: women are still underrepresented where decisions are made. Research shows that girls receive less encouragement than boys to consider leadership—and that this gap begins early. I founded Women in Office Next to focus first on high school girls, with a clear goal of expanding earlier into middle school—where leadership identity begins to form. . When half the population is not equally represented in leadership, our policies cannot fully reflect the people they serve.[GU1] When more women are at the table, the conversation changes—and so does the future.


People often ask if I ever considered running for office myself. While I have immense respect for those who do, I realized I could have a broader and more lasting impact by helping to build the pipeline—encouraging and preparing the next generation of women to step into public leadership.

I founded Women in Office Next to focus on a pivotal moment in the leadership journey—middle and high school—when girls are forming their confidence, identity, and sense of civic responsibility. Our mission is straightforward: to help girls see public leadership as a path open to them.

Because when more women are at the table, the conversation changes—and so does the future.

Parity is the Purpose.

Founder’s Message -- March 2026

Why I Started Women in Office Next

After more than 25 years working in social services and health policy, I began to reflect on what I wanted to accomplish next. My career has spanned issues from biomedical research to healthcare access, financing care for rural communities, and addressing mental health and substance use challenges. Throughout that time, one thing remained constant: a deep commitment to improving public policy and the lives it shapes.

As I considered my next step, I thought about volunteering with organizations focused on issues I care deeply about. But I know myself—I would quickly start asking bigger questions about strategy, priorities, and long-term impact. I also struggled to choose just one issue, knowing that focusing narrowly would leave so many others unaddressed.

When half the population is not equally represented in leadership,
our policies cannot fully reflect the people they serve.

Over time, I came to understand that many of the challenges I care about share a common root: women are still underrepresented where decisions are made. Research shows that girls receive less encouragement than boys to consider leadership—and that this gap begins early. I founded Women in Office Next to focus first on high school girls, with a clear goal of expanding earlier into middle school—where leadership identity begins to form. . When half the population is not equally represented in leadership, our policies cannot fully reflect the people they serve.[GU1] When more women are at the table, the conversation changes—and so does the future.

People often ask if I ever considered running for office myself. While I have immense respect for those who do, I realized I could have a broader and more lasting impact by helping to build the pipeline—encouraging and preparing the next generation of women to step into public leadership.

I founded Women in Office Next to focus on a pivotal moment in the leadership journey—middle and high school—when girls are forming their confidence, identity, and sense of civic responsibility. Our mission is straightforward: to help girls see public leadership as a path open to them.

Research shows that girls receive less encouragement than boys to consider political leadership, and that this gap in ambition begins early. That insight shaped my path forward.

Because when more women are at the table, the conversation changes—and so does the future.

Parity is the Purpose.

Founder’s Message -- March 2026

Why I Started Women in Office Next

After more than 25 years working in social services and health policy, I began to reflect on what I wanted to accomplish next. My career has spanned issues from biomedical research to healthcare access, financing care for rural communities, and addressing mental health and substance use challenges. Throughout that time, one thing remained constant: a deep commitment to improving public policy and the lives it shapes.

As I considered my next step, I thought about volunteering with organizations focused on issues I care deeply about. But I know myself—I would quickly start asking bigger questions about strategy, priorities, and long-term impact. I also struggled to choose just one issue, knowing that focusing narrowly would leave so many others unaddressed.

When half the population is not equally represented in leadership,
our policies cannot fully reflect the people they serve.

Over time, I came to see that many of the challenges I care about share a common root: women are still underrepresented in the rooms where policy decisions are made. When half the population is not equally represented in leadership, our policies cannot fully reflect the people they serve.
People often ask if I ever considered running for office myself. While I have immense respect for those who do, I realized I could have a broader and more lasting impact by helping to build the pipeline—encouraging and preparing the next generation of women to step into public leadership.

Research shows that girls receive less encouragement than boys to consider political leadership, and that this gap in ambition begins early. That insight shaped my path forward.

I founded Women in Office Next to focus on a pivotal moment in the leadership journey—middle and high school—when girls are forming their confidence, identity, and sense of civic responsibility. Our mission is straightforward: to help girls see public leadership as a path open to them.

Because when more women are at the table, the conversation changes—and so does the future.

Parity is the Purpose.