Dear friend, 

It's hard to believe that this is the final newsletter of 2023!

Here's what WPLN accomplished this year as a result of your support:

• We held our second annual #WPLNSummit in California — check out the highlights here!
• WPLN launched two new interview series: #TipsFromTheTrail and #LeadershipSpotlight, in which we speak with women leaders in different roles, industries, and levels of government to hear their experiences and advice.
• For Mother's Day, we brought back our popular #MomsOnTheTrail series, featuring stories from mothers seeking or serving in public office.
• Our network grew as we welcomed our second cohort of WPLN Fellows; a new state partner organization seeking to empower women in Pennsylvania; and new Board Chair Joel Noyes and Honorary Co-Chair Mimi Walters!
• We traveled across the country, to places like North Dakota and Oklahoma, to help train more women to lead!

It's been quite a year, and it wouldn't have been possible without your support. Thank you!

In 2024, we're planning to go even bigger — and higher! Our 2024 #WPLNSummit is June 20-22 in Denver, Colorado, aka "the Mile High City," and the theme is “Elevating Your Leadership: Rise Above."

This is our third annual summit, and I'm looking forward to seeing you. Early Bird pricing ends in less than two weeks on January 1, so buy your ticket now!

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN Founder and President

Save money and register today for Early Bird pricing — prices go up on January 1!

WPLN is thrilled to announce that a new organization has joined our State Partner Network! Level Up is based in Pennsylvania and seeks to foster growth and empowerment of women in the state.

You could win free tickets to our #WPLNSummit! We recently held our first giveaway to win tickets to our 2024 summit. Congratulations to Gabrielle "Ellie" Murphy, our first winner. Due to the overwhelming interest, we plan to hold many more — so follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and we're now on Threads!) to ensure you don't miss YOUR opportunity to win free tickets for yourself, friends, and family!

Still holiday shopping? Our online store has something for everyone! WPLN has hand-picked gifts that not only celebrate the remarkable women in your life but also support our mission to see more women at decision-making tables. Click here to shop!

Lastly, get a head start on your New Year's resolutions by saving the date for our #TipsFromTheTrail on January 9. Whether you want to learn how to grow your network or you're determined to make big career moves, join us for our chat with Angel Fimbres-Barcelo from Big Fish Recruiting. Stay tuned for more info!

FORBES | "Forbes unveils its 20th Annual Ranking Of The World’s Most Powerful Women": "In a year overshadowed by turbulent uncertainty and instability, the world's most powerful women are leveraging their influence beyond traditional realms to drive profound transformation... As we grapple with a global convergence of crises, the need for their leadership has never been more evident or urgent." Read more.

USA TODAY | "Nikki Haley is framing motherhood as an advantage, not a drawback. How it's making her rise in the polls": "Research published in 2017 by the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, an organization aimed at increasing women’s representation in American politics, found that voters often critique women in elected office with young children – questioning their ability to balance the tasks of motherhood with the requirements of the job. At the same time, voters distrust women without children, fearing that they won’t understand the issues facing families. Those with older children tend to fare better." Read more.

THE HILL | "Justice Sandra Day O’Connor paved a path for women on the Supreme Court. Four are serving today": "Before a woman led a presidential ticket and before a woman had served as secretary of state, Sandra Day O’Connor was known as the nation’s most powerful woman." Read more.

This month, the Center for American Women and Politics released a new report titled "Rethinking Women's Political Power." For it, CAWP interviewed 192 political actors within five states – Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• To maximize women’s political influence, it is necessary to rethink our definition and measures of political power to include not only women’s representation in elective offices at the local, state, and federal levels but also their influence as legislative staff, lobbyists, state agency leaders, party staff, political consultants, political donors, grassroots advocates and activists, and voters.
• Partisan differences in both the assessment and problematization of women’s political underrepresentation create distinct conditions for and hurdles to interventions aimed specifically at increasing women’s political power.
• Political actors cite the high cost of campaigns, low salaries, and the opportunity cost of public service over private sector employment as deterrents to women’s candidacy, officeholding, and staff positions.

Source: The Center for American Women and Politics

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READING | A Warrior of the People: How Susan La Flesche Overcame Racial and Gender Inequality to Become America's First Indian Doctor by Joe Starita: In 1889 — 31 years before the U.S. recognized women's right to vote — Susan La Flesche Picotte earned her medical degree, making her the first Native American doctor. Learn more about this woman trailblazer.

WATCHING | The Crown, on Netflix: The Crown is an award-winning historical drama about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and is in its sixth and final season. This season comes the closest to present-day, covering the years from 1997 to 2005.

LISTENING TO | Hot Mics from Left to Right with special guest Lauren Leader, All In Together Co-Founder and CEO: Special guest Lauren Leader joins Hot Mics from Left to Right hosts Maria Cardona and Alice Stewart to discuss how the media coverage of presidential candidate Nikki Haley — the only woman in the 2024 presidential race — compares to that of her male opponents.

EXCITED FOR | Our 2024 National #WPLNSummit: There's nothing better than being surrounded by women leaders from across the country, talking about the issues that matter and sharing advice on how to lead. Early Bird pricing ends January 1, so register today and save!

• Deb Haaland, one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress who was the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary (December 2)
• Patsy Mink, the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress and the first woman elected to Congress from Hawaii (December 6)
• Susan Collins, politician who represents Maine in the U.S. Senate and is the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate (December 7)
• Margaret Chase Smith, politician who represented Maine and was the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress, the first woman to represent Maine in Congress, and the first Republican woman to be nominated for the presidency (December 14)
• Sarah Breedlove ("Madam C.J. Walker"), businesswoman whose business line of hair and beauty products for Black women made her the wealthiest Black American businesswoman and wealthiest self-made American woman in her lifetime (December 23)

Learn the other women trailblazers and leaders who were born in December.

JANUARY 9 | WPLN #TipsFromTheTrail with Angel Fimbres-Barcelo: Is your New Year's resolution to learn how to network more effectively or to advance your career? Join WPLN for our first #TipsFromTheTrail in 2024 with Angel Fimbres-Barcelo from Big Fish Recruiting! Stay tuned for more info.

JANUARY 17 | LBJ Women's Campaign School 2024 Application Deadline: Are you ready to lead? Our Texas training partner, the LBJ Women's Campaign School, trains women to run for office or manage campaigns regardless of political party affiliation. Apply now to the LBJ Women’s Campaign School and learn how to run for office, manage campaigns, and create change in your community.

JANUARY 19 & 26 | WPLN's "How to Lead in Local Office": This new two-part series is for newly elected women leaders at the municipal or county level. The sessions will feature expert panelists. Register today!

JANUARY 24 | Nevada Women’s Leadership Alliance Leadership Speaker Series with Nevada State Senator Lisa Krasner: Our Nevada training partner Nevada Women's Leadership Alliance (NWLA) will host Nevada State Senator Lisa Krasner as its next Leadership Speaker Series (LSS) keynote speaker. Purchase your ticket before January 21!

FEBRUARY 7 | Pocketbook Project's 2nd Annual "Women in Politics" Symposium with Special Guest Senator Kelly Ayotte: Save the date for this event by our Massachusetts training partner, the Pocketbook Project, with former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte.

JUNE 20-22, 2024 | WPLN 2024 #WPLNSummit: Tickets are now available for our #WPLNSummit in Denver, Colorado! Join us at our 2024 #WPLNSummit in Denver!

Support WPLN programs and resources by making a contribution today!

Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is a non-profit organization organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law.