Laura Mignott

female-founder-holiday-bfast0038"When I first got out of Grad School I had a job and was working with this dude. His previous job was cleaning the decks of a ship. So I taught him everything I knew and then he got promoted and became my boss. I realized then that the only way I was going to be able to control the future of my career and get ahead was if I became an entrepreneur. I made a promise to myself that before I was 30 years old I would start my business.  My success has a lot to do with my smile. I'm friendly, I smile and then people want to talk to me." - Laura Mignott is the co-founder and managing partner of Digitalflash and she just launched The Reset, a five star podcast sponsored by Bose.

Susana Martinez

susana-martinez"I grew up in Mexico and my Father worked in construction. There's a lot of machismo in Mexico and my Father didn't think I could work like a man and didn't want me or my sisters to do construction work. He also didn't want me to play sports, except for tennis." - Susana Martinez is a part time student and works as a janitor.

Tracy Mack Parker

truman-foundation0217-2"Being a stepmother has given me the opportunity to learn from and teach my step-children how to set the bar high. To highlight for them the potential that woman have, as well as the challenges that we face.  I want them to know they need to be all in, to be dedicated, because they already have what they need to change the world." - Tracy Mack Parker, CEO, The Philanthropy Workshop.

Laurie T. Franz

truman-foundation0205"I used to feel incredibly uncomfortable on the streets . The catcalls and how men talked to me made me avoid cities. I've developed more confidence and my work makes me realize that I am more than just a girl walking down the street." - Laurie T. Franz is President of the Five Together Foundation.

Briana Payton

truman-foundation0064"My mother is my role model.  And since I am a woman, I can model my life and my character based on her example." - Briana Payton is a Truman Scholar studying Sociology at Princeton University. Briana attended the Truman Foundation's 4oth Anniversary Party at Gracie Mansion earlier this month.

Danielle Neighbor

truman-foundation0041"I've had classes where I felt like I had to prove myself.  And then I have had classes where I did actually have to prove myself. One time I walked into my Physics II class wearing a pink sorority shirt.  My, all male, project group acted as though I was invisible until I loudly asserted myself.  But there have been many women and men in the STEM fields who have encouraged me and told me that there is a place for me in Engineering.  Though, I don't wear my sorority letters to my Physics class anymore." - Danielle Neighbor is a Truman Scholar studying Engineering at University of Arkansas. She attended the Truman Foundation 40th Anniversary Party that was held at Gracie Mansion earlier this month.

Victoria Maloch

truman-foundation0033"People don't expect a female Democrat from Arkansas to be working in Agricultural Economics. Blanch Lincoln is my role model. She was the first female chair of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and by example showed that being from a rural place has value.  She gave me the confidence that I don't need to leave behind my rural experience or my rural values in order to have a seat at the table. There is a place for me in this field." - Victoria Maloch is a Truman Scholar studying at the University of Arkansas and she attended the Truman Foundation  40th Anniversary Party held at Gracie Mansion earlier this month.

Cara Valente Compton

truman-foundation0024"I had a son that I gave up for adoption when I was 22 years old. It was the biggest heartbreak of my life, but now we are in touch and he has a child and get to sneak peaks at my grandchild.  I have four more children who I have raised - three daughters and one son. Motherhood has really been the most empowering thing in my life.  My youngest child, my son, is transgender and wants to be called Hazel.  So I guess I really have four daughters." - Cara Valente Compton is a Truman Scholar and she attended the Truman Foundation's 40th Anniversary Party at Gracie Mansion earlier this month.

Wendy Piersall

the-scale-collective1013note: While telling me her story of why she started her own business, Wendy broke down and cried.  This is why I am doing me&EVE  - to create a space for women to be seen, heard and respected. "The whole reason I became an entrepreneur was to escape the sexism in the graphic design and marketing industry. The only way I would ever be in control of my destiny was to start my own business.  I went back to work after my second child and my new boss was younger and less experienced than me. I knew I would never be fully valued.  Instead, on my own, I was able to create a six figure income." - Wendy Piersall is an artist and author.  See her work at WendyPiersall.com

Kali Blocker

the-scale-collective0997"I have an amazing support group of women that has lifted me up when I needed lifting. Women are magical beings in how we support each other.  As women we aren't judged for being emotional, or for going through our ups and downs." - Kali Blocker is the founder of Diosas al Natural, which celebrates the natural hair movement in Puerto Rico and around the world.

Rebecca Levy

the-scale-collective0553"Having surprise identical twins was a life changing experience.  I had to put nearly everything in my life and career on hold for four years.  The co-founder of my business is also a mom of twins and we met online because we were both mommy blogging.  We realized that the internet wasn't always a safe place for kids and there weren't safe places for them to create and share their ideas and opinions, so we created that space." Rebecca Levy is the co-founder of KidsVuz and the mother of identical twins.

Sandy Carter

the-scale-collective0435"Early in my career I went to Japan as a tech expert with my boss.  The Japanese client would only acknowledge my male boss and look at or speak to me. Eventually my boss excused himself and left the building so that the client would have to speak with me directly. I realized then that men can be great allies for women." - Sandy Carter, is CEO of SiliconBlitz.

Danielle Schäfer

"I hope there is a difference between what Donald Trump says and what he does. I hope he was just talking. Women should be strong and not accept this as a loss. Do your thing and don't let him stop you. I was just traveling in Iceland and the women there protested the 14% wage gap by walking out of their jobs 14% early.  Then the next day they took to the streets with pots and pans. Don't give up." - Danielle Schäfer "I hope there is a difference between what Donald Trump says and what he does. I hope he was just talking. Women should be strong and not accept this as a loss. Do your thing and don't let him stop you. I was just traveling in Iceland and the women there protested the 14% wage gap by walking out of their jobs 14% early.  Then the next day they took to the streets with pots and pans. Don't give up." - Danielle Schäfer

 

 

Arianna O'Hara

"I wish I could have voted. If younger people could have voted the outcome would have been different. In my High School we had a mock trial and Hillary won. Our generation is next to vote and we have hope. After the next four or eight years we will have a chance to change and fix things. We are more progressive and we are more hopeful." - Arianna O'Hara "I wish I could have voted. If younger people could have voted the outcome would have been different. In my High School we had a mock trial and Hillary won. Our generation is next to vote and we have hope. After the next four or eight years we will have a chance to change and fix things. We are more progressive and we are more hopeful." - Arianna O'Hara