MEET THE 2024 LEADERSHIP TRAILBLAZER WINNER STEPHANIE LUCASH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, KENMORE, WASHINGTON

The League caught up with the 2024 Trailblazer Winner, Stephanie Lucash, Deputy City Manager, Kenmore, Washington to talk about being named the 2024 Leadership Trailblazer, books she recommends, and advice to her younger self.

Q: Congratulations on being named the 2024 Leadership Trailblazer Award Winner. What does the award mean to you? 

I am still riding the high of being named the 2024 Leadership Trailblazer Award winner. That was such a special day. To me, this award is a nod to my 30-year public service career and to my deep commitment to local government and to helping mentor, lift up, and support the next generation of women leaders in city and county government.  I have given so much of myself over the years in various leadership roles, so much of it behind the scenes, unseen and in the trenches, doing the hard work, and sometimes in challenging environments. I think this is one of our superpowers as women – we are good at leaving our egos at the door and working collaboratively to achieve big things together, rising above challenges, not worrying about who gets the credit, not concerning ourselves with being recognized.  

Looking back now, as I sit in this seat as the award winner, I see how all of my experiences have led me to this moment.  And I also see clearly the modeling I am doing by standing tall in this recognition of my accomplishments and work to move the dial.  My younger self might have shied away from taking credit for my hard work; my current self is reminded how important it is to recognize women. I am grateful to the League of Women in Government for creating this award and for giving it out each year. 

I feel called to reach out to all of the local government women everywhere who are, right now, in the trenches doing the hard things and say to them: I see you, I am you, and we are in this together. Stick with it. Do not listen to the critics. You are amazing. You and your work matter. Your day in the sun will come, and when it does, it will be glorious. 

Q: What do you attribute to the success of the Northwest Women’s Leadership Academy? 

The Northwest Women’s Leadership Academy (NWWLA) is very near and dear to my heart. One of my favorite quotes is from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This is especially true with the NWWLA.  I was part of the inaugural Academy cohort.  From day one, I knew I wanted to be involved with the NWWLA long term and to help it evolve and grow.  I think the key to our success is that we have a core group of strong women who are actively involved and are deeply committed to the Academy and its long-term viability. These women have dedicated endless hours to building and growing the Academy. I am grateful to have worked alongside talented women including Julie Underwood, Jessi Bon, Kristi Rowland, Kellye Mazzoli, Leslie Harris and many others – together we have lifted and carried the Academy to where we are today. Another key to our success is that we have been nimble and pivoted in various ways based on the needs of our participants, and that has kept applicants coming back and our reputation strong.  We are about to launch Cohort #6 later this month.  There are over 160 Academy graduates now, and another key to our success is building on the strength of our alumnae – their referrals and testimonials are immensely important in continuing to encourage a very competitive pool of candidates each year.  We recently expanded the NWWLA Executive Board, and I am excited to see the new board members bring their energy and enthusiasm to the work ahead.   

Leadership Trailblazer Winner – Stephanie Lucash, Deputy City Manager, Kenmore, Washington

Q: What do you think is needed or needs to change for more women to become city/county managers? 

A key challenge I see is the recruitment and selection process – if you are only looking for candidates who have been a city/county manager before, then you are excluding many talented women from the pool who are looking for their shot.  Another challenge is the lack of mentorship – up-and-coming female leaders need to be members of our state associations and networking at our conferences; we need to give them a seat at the table and opportunities to grow.  Another challenge is a lack of understanding and respect for city/county management as a profession, and acknowledgment that the jobs require a high level of skill, experience and training. I see an opportunity to continue to elevate the importance of our profession and of hiring skilled, trained leaders in these roles, combined with a chance to educate elected officials on the value of adding female leadership in the top seat. A related issue is the volatility of the job in some communities – it can be hard for women to consider the role when they see the way some experienced city and county managers are treated.  Finally, I would suggest a reconsideration of residency requirements, especially in urban areas where communities are close to each other and housing prices are high. Many women don’t want to uproot their family to move a few miles away, changing schools and probably losing money selling and then buying a house, when they are a short commute away.  If we want to move the needle and change the face of our profession so that more women can fill these roles, this is an area to be tackled.  In Washington State, I helped lobby to change state law to eliminate the residency requirement in 2022. 

Q: What are 3 books you recommend everyone read and why? 

I am an avid reader, and also someone who keeps an ever-growing pile of books on her nightstand, intending to read them all but never quite finding the time. My favorite writer of all time is presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. I love all her books but one that I think is particularly good, and relevant for our work in local government, is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. She has recently released a new book about the leadership journeys of four former U.S. presidents; I can’t wait to read it.  Another book I would recommend is Dare to Lead by Brene Brown; her writing has helped me go forth boldly in my work and in my life. A quick read is Wolfpack by Abby Wambach; a cherished colleague gave me this book during a tough time recently, and it was a powerful reminder of how women can change the game. A book recommendation for all the new mothers out there is Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott, which is an honest account of new motherhood; it helped me immensely on more than one sleepless night.  All of these are written by female authors, and I love each of the stories and perspectives they share. 

Q: What do you like to do for fun/interest outside of work and your career? 

I am a married mother of three: twin high schoolers and one college student.  I know how fast the high school years go; I am working hard to make the most of this time as my husband and I watch our three children grow into adults. I love to travel and lived in Paris for a while in my 20s. I enjoy taking trips with my kids and launching into meaningful conversations with them on a variety of topics. It has been fascinating seeing the world through the eyes of my son, a new voter. I also love watching live theater, including plays and Broadway musicals.  A highlight this year was traveling to New York City with one of my daughters and watching the new Broadway musical Suffs, the true story of Alice Paul and the many other women who fought for women’s right to vote. I highly recommend everyone see that musical, which provokes really important conversations about women’s rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, and how the journey continues.  I also enjoy reading, painting, spending time with friends, and being troop leader of my girls’ Girl Scout troop.   

Q: What advice would you give to your younger self? 

1. I would tell my younger self to enjoy each stage of the journey because they are all amazing in their own way. That includes the times when you are experiencing great success, and times when you fall down and have to pick yourself up and try again. Each of those experiences, good and bad, help you learn. Don’t be afraid of failure, lean into it. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  
2. I would also tell her that happiness is a choice, and not to postpone her happiness until later. I would tell her to be present and grateful now and to find small things to be thankful for every day.  I would tell her to start keeping a gratitude journal now.  I would tell her not to rush things too much, and that things will happen in their own time. 
3. I would tell her to never hesitate to invest in herself, whether through higher education, travel experiences, professional training, volunteer opportunities, music, art or other classes, or cultural events. Those investments in yourself, and the world view they help expand, are things no one can ever take away from you.
4. I would tell her to build and cherish a tight-knit posse of strong, savvy, and empathetic women who will celebrate each other’s successes and support each other as we navigate the challenges life brings. 
5. I would tell her to hold on tight to the people that she loves, spend time with them, and to never leave an “I love you” or an “I appreciate you” unsaid.  I would tell her that the days can seem long, but the years will seem short.
6. Finally, I would tell her you have everything you need, and you are stronger than you know.  You’ve got this.