Dear friend, 

When I founded the Women's Public Leadership Network years ago, my goal was simple: Support and empower right-of-center women whose voices are too often unrepresented in public service, despite Gallup finding year after year that a majority of American women identify as conservative or center-right.

Today, WPLN has grown into a community where those women can connect, learn, and support one another — culminating each year at our National Summit. Our National Summit is a powerful reminder of what is possible when women invest in each other's success. We're honored to play a part in any woman's leadership journey — including yours.

And since our Summit wasn't the only event this month, I also want to mention Father's Day — because we're grateful for the fathers, grandfathers, mentors, partners, and caregivers who encourage and support the women in their lives. WPLN was founded to build a network of support for women who want to make a difference, and that network includes the men who champion their leadership.

We're already looking forward to our 2027 Summit in Washington, D.C. Be sure to follow WPLN on social media for updates and announcements in the months ahead!

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN Founder and President

Looking back on WPLN's 2026 National Summit!

Earlier this month at WPLN's Fifth National Summit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attendees gathered at the historic Union League of Philadelphia for 2 days of keynote speakers, expert-led skills-building workshops, networking, and free professional headshots and childcare!

Why Philadelphia? WPLN President Larissa Martinez explained:

"This summer, the United States of America will commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Yet even as the nation declared that 'we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal,' women in America in 1776 were excluded from that promise. But despite not holding the same rights or power as men, women refused to be written out of the story of our nation’s history. They spoke up, organized, advocated — and led.

Women’s Public Leadership Network is proud to stand on the shoulders of those pioneers. As part of this historic milestone, we are honored to celebrate 250 years of women shaping American leadership at our 2026 National Summit this summer in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our country."

We welcomed women leaders from different states, industries, and types of leadership for the following events:

• Welcome reception with former U.S. Representative Mimi Walters
• Pennsylvania: Leadership in Action with Pennsylvania State Representatives Kristin Marcell and Martina White
• Fireside Chat on the Legacy of Liberty with Karen Navarro (Chief of Staff, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz) and Sandra Benitez (Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative)
• Fireside Chat with Joan Carter, recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Leader Award
• Fireside Chat with Edith Jorge-Tuñón (President of the State Government Leadership Foundation) and Emily Lockwood (Director of Political Engagement at Pivotal)
• Fireside Chat on Powering Possibility with Iowa State Senate President Amy Sinclair
• Leadership Awards Dinner with Edith Jorge-Tuñón (recipient of the 2026 Architect of Society Award) and David N. Taylor (recipient of the 2026 Daniel Anthony Award)

Our Summit featured panels on the following topics:

• State of American Women, highlighting key trends shaping women's leadership, opportunities, and challenges today
• Pennsylvania: Leadership in Action, exploring what public service looks like at the state level
• Legacy of Liberty: Reaching and Serving Every Community (hosted by The LIBRE Initiative), on how leaders can effectively engage and serve diverse communities
• Power Positioning, on how to build credibility and visibility and identify and pursue leadership opportunities
• Leading Across Differences: Pluralism in Practice, on how to build trust and bridges in order to lead across differing perspectives and find solutions
• Social Entrepreneurs Leveraging AI and Technology to Forge a New Path, identifying how women can use AI to lead more effectively 

Our workshops focused on the following tools and skills:

• AI for Impact: Practical Tools to Lead, Communicate, and Work Smarter (presented by Microsoft), which shared practical and accessible ways to integrate AI into daily work and public leadership efforts
• Reaching Your Audience (presented by Numinar), which explored how audience targeting, message development, and outreach strategies can cut through the noise and build trust
• Positioning for Impact: How to Step Into Leadership Opportunities, which discussed methods for strategically positioning yourself for leadership roles and seizing opportunities with intention
• Leading with Integrity: Navigating Rules, Ethics, and Compliance, which simplified complex compliance topics into practical guidance
• Elevate Your Presence, which presented practical tips from Styling with Confidence to Owning Your Narrative
• AI in Action: Using Google Tools to Lead, Communicate, and Deliver Results (presented by Google), which demonstrated how Google AI tools can support leadership and productivity

In addition to our sponsors, WPLN would like to extend our thanks to our 2026 National Summit host committee!

Tune in for this month's special live podcast episode!

What does the latest data reveal about women's representation in America — and what does it mean for the future of leadership?

Get the inside story — in this special live episode of the Tips From the Trail podcast from WPLN's 2026 National Summit, leading experts share the latest research and unpack emerging trends to provide insight into what's driving, challenging, and shaping women's political leadership today.

Edith Jorge-Tuñón

President, State Government Leadership Foundation

Edith Jorge-Tuñón has nearly two decades of political experience, including on gubernatorial campaigns, at The LIBRE Initiative, and at the State Government Leadership Foundation. This year, WPLN honored her with our 2026 WPLN Architect of Society Award!

... Melinda French Gates is investing an additional $215 million in women's health!

While philanthropist Melinda French Gates has given more than $400 million to fund women's health, she recently announced her first investment specifically targeting mid-life women: An additional $215 million that includes a focus on menopause.

She told USA TODAY:

“I'm both using my voice here and my money to say this is incredibly important. We ought to be pouring a lot more money into this area so that women can thrive and so that they can step into their full power.”

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

• For the woman who needs a break from summer break, The 19th examines "the real cost of summer break, from finding caregiving to staggering time off work."
• For the woman who feels like she can never complete a sentence at work, new Harvard Business Review research found that women are among the most frequently interrupted employees in the workplace.
• 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 June.

ICYMI: A special new 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!

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.