13 Women Who Changed My Working Life

I grew up in old-school newsrooms full of irreverent, transgressive, colorful and off-color fun, and not a few caustic flaws. In recent years, though, I’ve been gobsmacked by stunning misogyny and “anti-woke” prejudice masquerading as managerial brio. 

Photo by CoWomen on Unsplash

This piece was published March 15, 2023, on LinkedIn

I’ve been reflecting on the women who’ve wielded significant influence in my career and shaped who I’ve become as a writer, editor, journalist and leader. I worked with some of these women for more than a decade, others just a year or two, but what I've learned from them has stuck with me.

For Women’s History Month, I’d like to recognize and honor their impact on me and my own history.

Because the internet loves listicles 😉, here's my list of 13 women who changed my professional life for the better in both material and inspirational ways.

• Marcia Parker, for hiring me into a team of the most talented, intelligent, driven people I’ve ever been a part of, challenging me to do something I’d never done before, and embodying all that is noble and right in journalism.
• Sherry Skalko, for being a great boss and inspiring me every day with her enthusiasm, big ideas and high standards.
• Lauren Traut, master of social media and community engagement, for showing me how an open heart, unbridled passion and real personal connection help a community embrace local news — and for never being afraid to tell me I’m wrong.
• Autumn Johnson, for her discipline, mindset, ability to make tough calls, never-give-up attitude, and resolute sense of fairness and decency in dealing with people.
• Alison Bernstein, for hitting me with challenging questions and for her grace in the face of adversity and injustice.
• Lauren Ramsby, for her unmatched attention to detail, advocacy, professionalism and compassion.
• Jean Hodges, for teaching me to set aside emotion in difficult situations, identify the real problem, and focus on finding solutions.
• Kristen McQueary, breaker of big political stories, for her finely tuned bullshit meter, sharp analytical mind and sharper wit.
• Alice Foeller, breaker of big crime and justice stories, for her grit, independence, Ironman constitution, ability to hold people’s feet to the fire, and business-building skills.
• Allison Sansone, for her beautiful, soulful storytelling and exquisite, powerful writing.
• Lauren FitzPatrick, for her watchdog’s heart and resolve to fight for the little guy.
• Wynne Everett, for being unafraid to speak truth to power her entire career — and earning the victories and scars to prove it.
• Chris Bailey, for demonstrating the power of critical thinking in her work every day — and taking the time to teach me how to be an opinion writer.

These few words don’t nearly do justice to their work and influence or how much I admire them. In my own daily toil, I often draw on what I’ve learned from them. Many days, I wish I could be more like them. 

I grew up in old-school newsrooms full of irreverent, transgressive, colorful and off-color fun, and not a few caustic flaws. Sexism being one. I learned a lot in those newsrooms — and had to “unlearn” a few things along the way, too. In recent years, though, I’ve been gobsmacked by stunning misogyny and “anti-woke” prejudice masquerading as managerial brio. 

Eye-opening only to me, I suppose, as every woman on my list and more likely could recount from personal experience many tales of such behavior and bias. 

We need to do better. We need to acknowledge the professional women who influenced our work and careers. Not just this month but every month.

Workplaces are far better when women have their hands on the levers of power.

Not just this day but every day, I’m grateful to these women, and many other colleagues, who are living proof for that point of view.