Share YOUR Story
The League believes the best way to gain knowledge and develop new leaders in local government is to share our stories. We want to help inspire young women to seek a career and advance to their highest potential in local government. How can YOU help? Share YOUR story of how YOU made it to the City Manager, Police Chief, ACM or department head post! Or, if you are earlier in your career, share what has been helpful as you advance in your career. Believe it or not hearing and seeing what a career CAN be is essential for young people in our business. Finally, if you are not in local government, but are a writer and write about building confidence in women, women’s career advice, or related topics – submit a guest blog post.
The guest articles on our site have been written by women AND MEN and have ranged from short (about 350 words) to long (over 1000 words). We ask that the blogger give us their best photo (jpeg format) headshot so we can include on the website, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Or we can use a stock photo that relates to your topic. Not sure what you should write about? Here are the topics of some recent posts:
- Empowering spouse and kids at home so mom can be the Manager, Director, Deputy Chief, Chief, etc. in local government.
- Embracing diversity within organizations for the future of cities.
- Being in transition between jobs.
- Being your own best advocate on pay increases and job assignments.
- Will hiring more female police officers defuse police violence.
- Bumping the glass ceiling.
- Choosing to remain a #2 (ACM) in a city/county.
- When are you ready for your next job – sooner than you think!
- Work/Life Balance for moms in local government.
- Planting seeds with elected officials about the value of gender diversity/balance.
Still not sure about a topic? Here are some additional suggested topics:
- The need for hiring more women in technical and/or typically male dominated fields – police, fire, engineering, etc.
- The challenges, humorous situations, etc. of both spouses working in government.
- Female mentors that have inspired you in your career and why.
- What’s the best way to recruit women to public safety, engineering, etc.
- How you’ve mentored/value of mentoring young women in local government.
- Interviewing tips for women applying for city/county manager jobs.
- Dynamics of good gender balance within your organization.
- How the workplace has changed since you began your career re: women’s opportunities.
- Repatriation to local government after paternity (Dad) leave.
- The importance of hiring a gender diverse executive team.
Remember, as the first female astronaut Sally Ride said, “You can’t be what you can’t see!” Your story helps others see what they CAN be.
For more information or to send us your guest blog post, email us at INFO@leagueofwomeningovernment.org.
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Guest Articles & LWG Interviews
Guest Blogger: Ted Staton – City Manager, Upper Arlington OH on Let’s Get Our Own House in Order
Let's Get Our Own House in Order By Theodore Staton - City Manager, Upper Arlington, OH Last week, I was on a panel at the Ohio Municipal League conference on the value and benefits of adopting [...]
Guest Blogger: Karen Daly on #13Percent in Texas
By Karen Daly - City Manager, City of Hutto, TX Summer has passed, but things are still heating up in Texas! Texas Women Leading Government started earlier this year by holding four lunch meetings across the State. [...]
Guest Blogger: Tammy Letourneau on Work/Life Balance – Yes We Can Do It!
By Tamara Letourneau - Assistant Chief Executive Officer, City of Costa Mesa CA Work/life balance is a topic that women discuss and think about often. It is the subject of discussion at many water coolers, [...]
Guest Blogger: Mayor Sly James on Kansas City’s (WE) Women’s Empowerment Initiative
By Mayor Sly James - Kansas City, MO As Mayor, I attend meetings all across the City and when I do, I often find myself surrounded by men. It’s not enough to point that fact out. [...]
Guest Blogger: Bonnie Svrcek on Planting Seeds with Local Elected Officials
By Bonnie Svrcek - Deputy City Manager, City of Lynchburg, VA Last week I had the opportunity and privilege of presenting to the Virginia Municipal League's Women in Municipal Government breakfast on the Status of Women [...]
Guest Blogger: Julie Underwood on Why We Pretend to be Workaholics Podcast
How some men in business are rated as "ideal workers" while women aren't rated similarly. BU Professor's study shows that we don’t police men’s time the way that we police women’s time. 5/7/15 -- [...]