Dear friend, 

It's been a few months since the 2022 midterm elections, which left many politicians, pollsters, and pundits scratching their heads and asking, "What went wrong?"

However, the better question to ask is: "What went right?"

As I explained in a recent WPLN blog post, one of the biggest takeaways from 2022 is that "normal" is becoming the "new normal" again.

But it's more than that — "normal" not only sells... it also wins.

What does that mean for women like you, and how can WPLN help? I dive into that at our blog.

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN President and Co-Founder

The #WPLNSummit is less than 2 months away! We recently announced Nikita Pearson will lead a session on reaching diverse audiences — which is critical for getting your message out! We'll continue to release more names on social media. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, so you don't miss any announcements, and buy your ticket today!

In our #TipsFromTheTrail series, we interview top leaders who have run a campaign or for office. In our February interview, WPLN Fellow Caroline Richardson interviewed Jordan Fuchs, Georgia’s Deputy Secretary of State and former Campaign Manager for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Read more.

For this month's Leadership Spotlight, we were thrilled to speak with Chief Magistrate Judge of Fulton County, Georgia, Honorable Cassandra Kirk. Watch the February Leadership Spotlight.

Applications are now open to join WPLN's Impact Council. The Impact Council offers insights on WPLN strategies with opportunities to directly impact our programs and leaders throughout the year. Apply now!

NPR | "[Nikki] Haley signals a new direction for the GOP's national ticket": "Republican women are poised to play a larger role than ever in the process that chooses their party's national ticket for 2024." Read more.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER | "The changing face of Congress in 8 charts": "The 118th Congress achieved a variety of demographic milestones when its members took office in January. Generation Z is now represented in the national legislature, while Vermont sent a female lawmaker to Capitol Hill for the first time. Still, Congress remains out of step with the broader U.S. population by several demographic measures. Here are eight charts that show how the profile of Congress has changed over time, using historical data from CQ Roll Call, the Congressional Research Service and other sources." Read more.

WASHINGTON POST | "Her 5th-grade idea was a monument to women. It just became law": "When she walked around her hometown and looked at the monuments and memorials in D.C. that tell our nation’s history, it’s all man, men, horse, war, man, horse, men. Among 44 memorials in the National Mall space, only two include real women." Read more.

In the Forbes article "Why 2023 Has To Be The Year Of Women In The Workplace," Megan McCann notes that recent years have offered challenges for women in the professional world and offers suggestions for businesses who want to be more intentional about promoting and retaining women at all levels in their organizations:

1. Talk to women in your organization — at all levels — and ask them questions.
2. Focus on recognition and succession.
3. Gather and analyze data around gender representation.

Read more to learn the remaining suggestions.

READING | My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King: Coretta Scott King, a civil rights leader in her own right, was a major force behind the success and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her 2017 memoir is an opportunity to hear directly from her as a woman, a leader, and a wife. Learn more.

WATCHING | The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks on Peacock: This documentary was released last year, but Rosa's birthday earlier this month provided a good reason to watch it again. Learn more.

LISTENING TO | She Said / She Said, with Laura Cox Kaplan, episode 232 — "How to leverage professional conferences to build your network and increase your influence": Networking is a critical skill to have in politics and leadership — and this podcast episode on how to use professional events to create connections and build relationships discusses best practices and tips for how to network effectively. Learn more.

EXCITED FOR | Women's History Month in March: Every time March rolls around, we're thankful for an opportunity to be more intentional about honoring women leaders and learning more about women throughout history. Plus, the world celebrates International Women's Day on March 8!

• Rosa Parks, civil rights activist whose bus boycott led to nationwide civil rights protests and attempts to end racial segregation (February 4)
• Betty Friedan, author whose novel The Feminine Mystique is widely credited with beginning second wave feminism in the United States (February 4)
• Susan B. Anthony, suffragist who was one of the most well-known leaders of the women's suffrage movement (February 15)

Visit our website to see the other women trailblazers and leaders who were born in February.

MARCH 8 | Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition March Candidate Mentoring Circle: Join our Virginia training partner Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition on March 8th to network with right-of-center women running for any office in Virginia. This is an opportunity to introduce yourself and ask questions about issues you are facing in your race. VCWC Executive Board and Advisory Board members, former candidates, and special guests will be available! NOTE: This event is for 2023 candidates only. Learn more.

MARCH 30 | Colorado Women's Alliance at Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row: Join our Colorado training partner Colorado Women's Alliance on March 30th for fun and country music with Trey Taylor at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row! Learn more.

APRIL 12 | Louisiana Women Lead's Political Jeopardy: Join our Louisiana training partner Louisiana Women Lead for a night of political jeopardy! Lawmakers and elected officials will be tested on their political knowledge of Louisiana. Will the women of Louisiana win or will it be the men? Learn more.

APRIL 21 - 23, 2023 | WPLN's National Summit in San Diego, California: Our National Summit is an opportunity to meet and connect with likeminded women leaders from across the country. We hope you'll join us! Learn more.

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.