Dear friend, 

While July always begins with celebrations of our nation's founding, the 250th anniversary this year offers a special opportunity to reflect on America's history — including the way women have shaped America from the beginning.

America's story is even richer than many history books suggest, since they often highlight only a handful of women — overlooking the countless women who have shaped America through community organizing, advocacy, and public service.

It's because those previous generations of women chose to lead in whatever way they could that women today have the opportunities they do. As we honor the women who helped shape America's first 250 years, we're also looking ahead to the women and tools that will help shape the next 250.

Today, artificial intelligence is one of those tools that leaders can use to help expand their impact. That's why I'm excited to share WPLN's new training, designed to show candidates and their campaigns how to use AI to work smarter and communicate more effectively, so they can spend more time on what matters most: The voters, from building relationships to earning trust. Check out the course below!

May the anniversary of America's founding this year inspire us to lead boldly, invest in others generously, and remember that history is still being written. Here's to the next 250!

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN Founder and President

Enroll in WPLN's new course to learn how to campaign smarter with AI!

Not sure where to start with artificial intelligence — or how it could actually help your campaign?

AI is changing the way campaigns operate by helping teams save time, strengthen communications, improve fundraising, and work more efficiently. The candidates and campaigns who know how to use it will be the ones with the advantage.

To equip you with practical, real-world guidance for using AI effectively, responsibly, and securely, WPLN has launched our new Secure AI for Campaigns course, developed in partnership with Microsoft and based on the Secure AI Toolkit for Campaigns created with Defending Digital Campaigns.

Topics that the course covers include the following:

• Research and voter insights

• Communications and content creation

• Fundraising and campaign productivity

• Data protection and responsible AI use

From first-time candidates to seasoned campaign professionals, our new course provides practical skills you can put to work right away.

Enroll today and start building a smarter, more effective campaign!

Join the private WPLN Leaders Circle on LinkedIn!

Our Summit attendees told us after our 2026 National Summit in Philadelphia that you wanted ways to stay in touch with the women you met — so we've launched a new private LinkedIn group!

The WPLN Leaders Circle on LinkedIn provides you with the opportunity to continue building connections, sharing ideas, and supporting one another.

No matter where you are on your leadership journey — whether exploring your first opportunity to serve, already active in leadership, or simply looking to learn from others — you'll find a network of women who share your commitment to making a difference.

Don't miss another new Tips from the Trail episode from WPLN's 2026 National Summit!

This is the second of our Tips from the Trail episodes recorded live at WPLN's 2026 National Summit, and it features Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair as she reflects on her journey from local office to one of the highest leadership positions in state government.

She shares the pivotal decisions, hard-earned lessons, and defining moments that shaped her career — and why embracing opportunity by saying "yes" made all the difference.

Whether you're stepping into leadership or wondering what comes next, Amy's story will inspire you to embrace new opportunities and lead with confidence.

Sara Marie Ridley

Growth Strategist, Numinar

Before joining political tech startup Numinar as a Growth Strategist, Sara Marie Ridley served as State Strategist for Majority Strategies, in which she worked with campaigns across multiple states, and as Deputy Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy under Secretary Rick Perry. She has been a featured speaker at several WPLN events, including our National Summits!

... a record number of women are now serving in the U.S. Senate!

The appointment of Darline Graham Nordone to temporarily fill the seat of late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has led to new records in women's political representation:

• A record number of women (27) serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate.

• A record number of Republican women (11) serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate.
• The first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

When South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Senator Nordone to finish her late brother's U.S. term, he was following America's historical tradition of "widow's succession" (though this is the first time a sister, not a wife, has succeeded her male family member in political office).

"This tradition was one of the main ways American women gained access to political power in the 20th century," according to the Smithsonian magazine.

And since we know you're busy, here are our top picks for other "must reads" this month!

• For the woman who followed every moment of coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics and Men's World Cup this year, the new women's professional baseball league teams are named for trailblazing American women; the European Union recently introduced guidelines to prevent the sexualization of female athletes through camera angles; female fans have started using their personal style and fashion to show their love of sports; and women's sports continue to break — and set new — attendance records.
• For the woman who always wins trivia competitions, the Smithsonian highlighted Mary Katharine Goddard, the woman who "produced the first official copy of the Declaration of Independence to include the signers’ names — and added her own."
• For the woman who wants to Remember the Ladies, check out our monthly feature on key moments in women's representation and rights in the past during the month of July.

ICYMI: Last month's special episode of the Tips from the Trail podcast! This special episode was recorded live at WPLN’s 2026 National Summit in Philadelphia and features Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) Director Debbie Walsh and Pantheon Insight Co-Founder Amanda Iovino, who joined WPLN President Larissa Martinez to discuss the latest research, data, and trends shaping women’s leadership. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Spotify and never miss an episode!

SEPTEMBER 9 | Style Across the Aisle: Join Gotham Rising for a bipartisan fashion runway show in NYC, where public officials model looks by local designers!

NOVEMBER 12 and 13 | Ellevate's 2026 Leadership and Policy Summit: Save the date for Ellevate Louisiana's 2-day 2026 Summit in New Orleans!

And stay tuned for more events with Google and more WPLN Lead in Style events!

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.