Celebrating Women’s Victories Today – Thank You Nancy

Tuesday is the day I write about Women’s Equality but it is Thursday and I just watched the beautiful face of Nancy Pelosi’s granddaughter hold her grandmother’s hand dangling next to Nancy’s striking bright pink dress as she took the gavel as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

I rejoice because 52% of the American population is women. I have supported women running for office since Hillary Clinton ran for President in 2008 and Joanie Mahoney ran to become first female Onondaga County Executive in 2008. I also invited Joanne Yepsen, Mayor of Saratoga Springs, to address my audience of women entrepreneurs when she was mayor as well as Stephanie Miner, as Mayor of Syracuse. I also supported Juanita Perez Williams on two of her local Syracuse bids.

Since then I have supported every woman who asked me to promote and support their run as well as supporting those I don’t know personally. Days like today remind me why every woman must get behind female candidates because as Shirley Chisholm said once, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Nancy Pelosi didn’t need to bring a folding chair to the House Chamber today but she put in long hours, dedication and relentless days fighting for her place behind the podium, which she also held from 2007-2011, being first woman to hold this position twice. Perhaps the quote, “A woman’s work is never done” is appropriate for Nancy’s rise today.

Women work hard. We work as hard as men in so many areas of life. Women deserve their rightful place at any table – or podium – they want to belong to. For the youngest of girls, college females, young working female professionals, female athletes and working women of the world, YOU can be anything you want to be with hard work, dedication and fortitude. I hope when you succeed you remember today and wear a pink dress to the party, because being a woman is good enough!