9 Women Who Inspire Me Everyday
All women are amazing. They’re responsible for giving us life, raising us, and empowering us to take on life’s challenges headfirst. Women don’t skip a beat.
Let’s face it, most women today balance a job (or more than one), with community involvement, a social life, and maybe even taking care of the home or raising children. Women run the world (even if most legislative offices don’t reflect that).
Every day, I am inspired by a host of talented, driven, and intelligent women. Some, I get to talk to everyday. Others, I can only dream about meeting. And until I do, I’ll continue to soak in their wisdom via books, blogs, tweets, and TV appearances (at least for some of them). Here are nine all-star women who inspire me everyday:
1. Beck Dorey-Stein
Beck Dorey-Stein is the author of the memoir, From the Corner of the Oval — a book I heard about from another MPLS MadWoman. It’s the true story of a woman who worked in Washington, D.C., when she was 26 years old, as a stenographer for President Barack Obama. From the Corner of the Oval follows Beck’s journey navigating the White House, packing a spare duffel bag to keep on Air Force One, and looking for love despite a schedule that involved traveling the world with the President of the United States three times a week.
2. Lauryn Barlow
Bodywork means different things to different people. To Lauryn, it’s about creating a space where people feel they can relax and receive healing no matter their race, sexual orientation, religion, or size. For her friend, Emilie Robinson, it’s about creating permanent works of art as tattoos. Together, these two women run The Aldrich Tattoo Parlor — a tattoo shop that transforms into a healing studio each Sunday. I highly recommend visiting Lauryn for your next massage, reiki, or cupping session.
3. Elizabeth Warren
Time to ruffle some feathers. Let me start by saying I’m inspired by many women in the political arena, because they’re out there doing what’s never before been done.
Elizabeth Warren is making waves across the United States and it’s inspiring to watch. She’s running for President on a platform to “save our democracy, rebuild the middle class, and end corruption in Washington.” You can learn more about the platform online on Warren’s website or by following her on Twitter, where she frequently shares her stance on current events and hot-button topics.
4. Eliza Green
For those who don’t know, Eliza Green is the woman behind the scenes of this blog. She’s also the first person who hired me as a copywriter in the industry — and I’ve looked up to her ever since. As a full-time, freelance copywriter and content strategist, Eliza continually answers all of my questions about invoicing, pay, and contracts. She’s a thoughtful mentor, friend, and coworker, and she inspires me daily with her organization, attention to detail, and tenacity to turn in great work.
5. Taydem Wall
A powerhouse at Target Creative, Taydem Wall is basically a walking, talking human dictionary. She’s an Associate Creative Director with a knack for blending work and fun. She’s also a mom — and despite running back and forth between Target Corp. and lacrosse tournaments, she still manages to clock into work by 7 a.m. each day. I’m inspired by Taydem and all other working moms everyday.
6. My sister, Anne
Another working mom who deserves a huge shoutout is my sister, Anne. Anne doesn’t work in the ad industry, but as a clinical supervisor at St. David’s Center, she’s well-versed in what it takes to translate requests, communicate clearly, and bring people together. As the baby sister, I’ve always looked up to Anne, but her objective success in her career and as a mother is what inspires me to continue seeking her advice even today.
7. My mom, Michelle
Moms are amazing, and my mom is no exception. In fact, I think moms are so amazing that I wrote an entire blog post all about ’em.
My mom, like so many others, has devoted her adult life to taking care of her family while working. My mom is a “yes” woman, in the very best way. She’ll always say “yes” to new adventures, volunteering her time, and baking you a custom birthday cheesecake (she can serve up more than 70 different flavors!).
8. Ilhan Omar
Known and loved on both a local and national scale, Ilhan Omar represents Minnesota as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Ilhan was the first Somali-American, non-white woman and one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress. I’m proud to have voted for her.
9. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (known as AOC) became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress — which is amazing, since prior to her election I thought Congress prerequisites included rubbing elbows with the right people and having your parents pay for your acceptance to an Ivy League School. AOC currently serves the 14th congressional district of New York — and aggravates a lot of people in the process. She is a progressive Democrat who inspires me everyday with her tenacity, her intelligence, and her refusal to sit down, shut up, and accept the status quo.
Feeling Inspired?
From locals to legislators, authors and aunts, these women inspire me and countless others each and every day. Their words, ideas, and actions continue to challenge what it means to be a woman in modern society, and I’m lucky to have so many role models to watch as I work my way up the career ladder and chase after my goals.
If you’re wondering how to incorporate more womanly inspiration into your world, I encourage you to read books by women authors, listen to music by women artists, and buy from local, women-owned businesses. If you want to support women in the Minneapolis ad industry, consider supporting MPLS MadWomen and our events. Because when women empower other women, incredible things happen.
//image by Cristina Gottard