"The program gave me a close-up view of political, business and social issues and trends, information that is invaluable to me as an entrepreneur and active participant in the success of our great state. The speakers were incredible� they inspired us and stretched our minds. The opportunity to connect with successful and dynamic California women leaders was a main highlight. Being part of Leadership California is like being part of a powerful sisterhood."

—Ursula C. Mentjes, M.S., ACC
President and Certified Business Coach
Potential Quest, Inc.
"I have enjoyed my involvement with Leadership California. Our trip to the state capitol was most enlightening. As a result I have gotten involved with the Los Angeles African American Women's Political Action Committee. Thank you, Leadership California, for sparking a genuine interest in the political process."

—Shawn Farrar
Director Corporate Diversity
Sempra Energy
"The CIT program brings together successful women from all over California, and gives them the opportunity to build a network with other successful women. It's a way to learn about the important issues in our state, and to get ready to take the next step in your professional life."

—Isela Vilchis Hoenigmann
"Leadership California has provided me a panoramic view of issues, challenges and opportunities for this lovely state that I live in. The program was my introduction to women of unbelievable talent, experience and passion who are set to make a difference. The feeling to want to be more, to accomplish more, is simply contagious. I hope to know these women for the rest of my life."

—Rosario Montes-Arena
Manager, IBM Software Executive Briefing Program
Silicon Valley & Worldwide Briefing Program
"As a young immigrant woman working in the nonprofit sector, it was inspiring to see women leaders in action, to be able to network with them, and talk about the issues that are relevant to our communities and our state. I feel honored and privileged for the opportunity to participate in such an awesome program that weaves women leaders from different sectors and geographies of California to engage in a conversation about the social, political, and economic fabric of California."

—Winnie Hui-Min Yu
Development Associate
Asian Law Caucus
San Francisco
"I've spent half of my work life in the corporate world, and the past ten years in the nonprofit world, but neither taught me how to be who I am at work�the whole pastiche of talent and spirit. I found role models who excited me, the true state of our state of California (which frustrated me), work partners continually learning like me, and friends."

—Peta G. Penson, Ed. D.
Consultant
Oakland Unified School District
"Leadership California sessions feature influential speakers and lively discussion on timely issues shaping the economy and workforce. The session on work-life balance struck a chord with me, where key leaders advised us to map out a personal career plan. Networking with other women was invaluable. Leadership California is an engaging and downright fun experience."

—Roberta Tinajero-Frankel
Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Dept.
Healthy Eating, Active Living Project Manager
"Simply put, Leadership California is time well spent that will benefit me personally and professionally for years to come. I've not only kept in contact with my fellow classmates on a social level, but have had opportunities to work with some of them on business projects as our professional paths crossed. The sessions gave in-depth looks at the critical social issues that many Californians face, inspiring me to get more involved in my community�s outreach programs."

—Teena Massingill
Manager of Corporate Public Affairs
Safeway Inc.
   



First Person Profiles with Women Leaders

Hilda Solis: A Leading Light in Public Service

April 21, 2015 - Q: Supervisor Solis, you’ve spent most of your career in public service, now as a Los Angeles County Supervisor since December 2014. You previously served as United States Secretary of Labor, becoming the first Latina in the United States Cabinet. MORE>

Amy Whitley: Uniting a Workforce for Commerce Around the Globe

by Carol Caley - February 19, 2015 - "We connect millions of customers from around the globe every day, making it a business imperative for our workforce to be like and think like the vast MORE>
 

Trailblazers All: Meet the Six CSU Women Presidents

February 12, 2015 - Remarkable “Firsts” Spotlight Academic Leaders
LEADERSHIP CALIFORNIA HAS THE UNIQUE DISTINCTION of celebrating academic women in a momentous way: We’ll be honoring all six women presidents of California State Universities as Trailblazers MORE>

Faye Washington: Champion of Those Who Have Not

by Carol Caley - January 22, 2015 - FAYE WASHINGTON is a rainmaker in the world of non-profit, with a 32-year record of management, personnel administration, strategic planning and legislative and budget policy development and implementation which led to her groundbreaking tenure at the YWCA Greater Los Angeles in its mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. MORE>

Promoting Yourself: It’s Easier Than You Think—
With A Peer in Your Corner

By Sally Helgesen August 6, 2014 - I'm good at a lot of things but I’m bad at self-marketing, which is a problem because I’m self-employed. The challenge has only become more acute as technology provides an ever-bigger platform for those who enjoy sharing their achievements. Yes, I know  MORE>

MWD’s Margie Wheeler Deals with the Drought

September 5, 2014 - “Water is serious business in California, and droughts are a fact of life now,” says Margie Wheeler, executive strategist with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). MORE>

High Potential Women: Remove the Feminine Filter

By Kelly Watson - June 30, 2014 - Why do women find the quest for work life balance so elusive? Why do women, more than men, need work flexibility? Why are the numbers of women in leadership still so low? MORE>

Rosie Rios: Happy with her Pie of Life
Any Way You Slice It, She Feels Privileged to Serve

April 7, 2014  BEN GETS A MAKEOVER - Treasurer of the United States ROSIE RIOS, second from right, holds up a newly-redesigned $100 Federal Reserve Note at an unveiling ceremony in 2010. Sharing the moment: from left, former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Special Agent in Charge John Large from the U.S. Secret Service. MORE>

Geisha Williams: Set Your Sights High,
Take Charge and Keep the Lights On

by Carol Caley - February 17, 2014  Geisha Williams, Executive Vice President, Electric Operations at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, has achieved many “firsts” in family, career and life. Geisha has brought a hands-on leadership style, fresh perspective, and deep knowledge of the industry to her role at PG&E. With responsibility for electric distribution, transmission and substation operations, construction, restoration and emergency response, she also oversees smart grid and technology integration. Geisha is a Cuban immigrant, the first college graduate in her family, and is the highest-ranking Latina in the energy industry. MORE>

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris: The Young Deserve Tranquil, Healthy Lives

by Carol Caley - December 3, 2013  Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is founder and CEO of the Center for Youth Wellness. She has earned international attention for her innovative approach to addressing adverse childhood experiences as a risk factor for adult disease such as heart disease and cancer. Her work has demonstrated that it’s time to reassess the relationship between poverty, child development and health.  MORE>

Reframe Many Women’s Issues as Dual Career Couple Issues

by Eve Sprunt, Ph.D. - September 10, 2013  Feminists are not born. They are made by life’s experiences. When I graduated from high school, I thought that the barriers to women had been swept away and that the future was wide open to me if I wanted to be a female scientist.  MORE>

Lucille Roybal-Allard: Trailblazer Values Women's Influence in Policymaking

by Carol Caley - April 25, 2013  A political pioneer, in 1992 Lucille Roybal-Allard was elected the first Mexican-American woman in Congress, representing the 40th District. Roybal-Allard champions increased access to health care, affordable housing, upgraded public schools, school safety, an increased federal minimum wage, preservation of Social Security and Medicare, and economic growth to create new jobs.  MORE>

Vandi Verma Tompkins Ph.D.: Trailblazer Makes Tracks on Mars

by Carol Caley - April 8, 2013  The eyes of the world are on an odd-looking Mars vehicle known as Curiosity, which roams at the will of a cadre of specialists in robotic space exploration, including Vandi Verma Tompkins, Ph.D. Vandi is one of the elite few women from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to drive a Martian vehicle MORE>

Values Run Deep (and Blue) for Sempra Exec Joyce Rowland

by Carol Caley - March 7, 2013  Joyce Rowland has a distinguished professional career at Sempra Energy, which currently includes responsibility for corporate human resources, compensation, health and welfare benefits, employee relations, executive/leadership development, staffing and affirmative-action/diversity programs. She is also responsible for human resource information systems, payroll and employee programs. Rowland also serves as president of the Sempra Energy Foundation. MORE>

A Penny for Her Thoughts on Winning, Losing,
Vision and the Competitive Edge

by Carol Caley - February 26, 2013  Penny Toler has served as General Manager of the Los Angeles Sparks for the past 13 seasons, and since 2010 has held the dual title of Vice President. In 2012, Toler was named the Executive Vice President alongside her General Manager title. Her skill at roster-building – bringing some of the most talented female athletes in the world to Los Angeles – and keen sense of basketball operations MORE>

Priscilla Lizárraga: She Leads those who Dare to Dream

by Carol Caley - January 18, 2013  Priscilla Lizárraga was inspired to work on behalf of Latino youth who seek a college education when her own mother earned a college degree at the age of 41 and became a nurse...... MORE>

Nancy O’Malley: Inspired by Women Leaders,
She Seeks Justice for Crime Victims

by Carol Caley - May 3, 2012  As the County of Alameda’s first female elected district attorney, Nancy O’Malley is honored as a nationally recognized expert in victims’ rights, sexual assault, domestic violence, and elder and child abuse..... MORE>

Lydia Beebe: Good Governance is Good Business
for Global Company Leader

by Carol Caley - April 16, 2012  Lydia I. Beebe is Corporate Secretary and Chief Governance Officer of Chevron Corporation. Her distinguished professional career includes 16 years as a corporate officer of Chevron, serving as..... MORE>

 



 

 
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