Leap Into Leadership
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Women from all over the state leapt into leadership together Feb. 12 and 13, 2009. The Wyoming Women’s Foundation was proud to support the second annual Leap into Leadership conference in Cheyenne.
The event is the brainchild of the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus, and was a raging success, despite snowfall. Over 100 people RSVP’d, and while some were barred from coming due to weather, those that did make it were given an opportunity to explore ways that women could expand their leadership opportunities.
Wyoming First Lady Nancy Freudenthal kicked things off with an inspirational address at the Historic Governor’s Mansion Thursday night. After snacks and tours of one of Wyoming’s oldest homes, Nancy took the stage and asked all the women in attendance to think about why more women don’t serve in the legislature in Wyoming. She cited the strength and perseverance shown by women in Wyoming, recognizing the untapped potential all across the state. Stressing the importance of supporting women in leadership roles, Nancy made it clear that any kind of giving, whether its giving your time or giving your money, the spirit of giving is integral for the success of women leaders. She joked that she’d read somewhere that the average pair of shoes in America costs $27. “I don’t know where you buy a pair of shoes for $27, but giving just that much each month would make a huge difference,” Freudenthal said.
She wrapped it up by allowing other women leaders in the room, including state representatives such as Rosie Berger and Saundra Meyer, to share their experiences. The over arching theme throughout each story was that it was help and encouragement from the outside, from a friend or family member, that got them thinking about leadership positions in the first place.
The conference continued on Friday morning at the State Capitol, where tours were given after a brief press conference. State Auditor Rita Meyer hosted a reception with coffee and snacks in her offices for the ladies before workshops began in the Herschler Building. The three workshops offered were “Public Speaking,” led by Faith Winter of the White House Project; “Advocate What You Believe In,” led by Sarah Gorin of the Equality State Policy Center; and “Discerning Your Core Values,” led by Bill Schilling of the Wyoming Business Alliance. Women were also given the opportunity to attend legislative committee meetings or observe the House and Senate in action during the day.
During lunch, a panel of former legislators spoke at length about women leadership. Panelists included E. Jayne Mockler, Jane Warren and Rae Lynn Job. Brimmer Communications sponsored the lunch and moderated the three legislators’ presentation
The WyWF provided manpower for registration, setup and cleanup, as well as providing information about Equality Initiatives and the Wage Project. Other partners of the event included the Wyoming Business Alliance, the Equipoise Fund and the Equality State Policy Center.
The event has grown since last year, in large part due to the tireless work of Melissa Turley, the mastermind behind Leap into Leadership. When women and girls prosper, communities thrive. And with so many people dedicated to helping Wyoming women lead, our state is bound to be thriving in no time!
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