ADVANCE: Montgomery Women's Leadership Digest

December 2024

A Message from Leadership

Welcome to December!

Congratulations, you’ve almost made it to the end of 2024. What. A. Year. In reflecting on the highs and lows of the past year, I am grateful for the community provided by Montgomery Women.

Throughout my career, I’ve benefited from phenomenal role models and mentors. Sadly, one of them passed away this fall after a 10-year battle with multiple myeloma. Kate Coburn was a remarkable leader and, if she had lived in Montgomery County, I believe she definitely would have been a member of Montgomery Women. Even after I no longer worked with her, I could always call her up when I needed advice, an ear, or a pep talk. Therefore, I wanted to use this space to share some of the lessons I learned from her with the hope that they are helpful for others:

1. Join a professional organization AND get involved with a committee. Being on a committee is a great way to get to know people as you interact with a small group more frequently and gain a deeper understanding of the organization. I moved from New York to Maryland a decade ago and had to make new friends and rebuild my professional network. Joining committees helped with both. Information about how to get more involved with Montgomery Women committees is on our website: https://montgomerywomen.org/get-involved/

2. Network from the heart. Networking isn’t just transactional; it is about building relationships over time and getting to know people personally, as well as professionally. One thing I love about Montgomery Women is the opportunity to meet new people and hear stories about their personal passions in addition to professions.

3. Put yourself out there. You have to advocate for yourself. And if you fail, the next opportunity that comes along will be even better.

4. Enjoy the ride. Kate was always up for an adventure, and, as a retail expert, loved to visit downtowns and retail centers. We did a project in Hampton, VA once and spent two days touring the retail areas from Williamsburg to Norfolk. When visiting new places, she was always on the lookout for the best restaurant or an interesting small business.

I hope I can do as much for others as Kate did for me. That is one of the reasons I am so passionate about supporting the Women in Leadership Scholarship at Montgomery College. This scholarship helps local students with the additional costs of going to school—books, food, gas money, rent, etc. Please consider contributing as you plan your end-of-year giving or Giving Tuesday contributions: https://montgomerywomen.org/scholarship-fund/

I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, and I hope to see you in January at our New Year Party (stay tuned for the date).

Best,

Carrie McCarthy

Montgomery Women Board Member and Co-Chair, Development Committee

Pictured is Carrie and Kate at a conference in New York, April 2024.

Member Spotlights

Jane de Winter

Executive Director,

Big Learning

Jane is the Executive Director of Big Learning, a nonprofit dedicated to providing creative and engaging afterschool enrichment programs to elementary and middle school students in the county. Jane served on the Board of Directors of Big Learning from 2006-2013 before becoming Executive Director. Prior to this role, she taught at the University of Washington and American University and worked as an economic consultant. Jane was involved in Montgomery County PTAs for 19 years, serving as PTA president at two local schools and as president of MCCPTA, the county-wide PTA. She also served two terms as chair of the Montgomery County Commission for Children and Youth and served on several MCPS workgroups and committees.

Paula Ross

President & CEO,

GGCC

Paula has served as the President and CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) since 2022. She has extensive experience leading Montgomery County nonprofits and working hard to highlight and support Upcounty businesses. Prior to leading the GGCC, Paula was the Executive Director of Metropolitan Ballet Theatre (MBT) from 2012-2021, where she led the organization through two major expansions, two strategic plans, the organization’s first capital campaign, and the tripling of the organization’s budget. Prior to joining MBT, she built a communications consulting practice, serving the diverse strategic communications needs of her clients, which ranged from small nonprofits to Fortune 50 companies.

Leadership Nuggets

Must Read

Year-end reflections are a crucial practice for leaders, offering an opportunity to pause, assess progress, and gain valuable insights for the future. This process not only enhances self-awareness but also strengthens decision-making and planning for the coming year. Read this recent Forbes article for six reflective questions for a meaningful year-end review.

Recommended Listening

In a recent episode of the "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast, the hosts discuss the concept of setting goals and whether having rigid expectations for our future can be detrimental. Listen here.

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Key Updates

Nominate Women Making History

Do you know an exceptional woman making a difference in Montgomery County? There is still time to nominate them for our annual Women Making History Award! We have extended the nomination deadline to December 12th. Submit your nominations here.

Engaging with the Montgomery Women community

This month we are pleased to welcome Molly Scott and Ashley Warren to our vibrant and dynamic community!

If you haven't already, we’re encouraging all new and returning members to complete their member profiles in our directory. The member directory is an incredible resource for networking, collaboration, and professional growth. By completing your profile, fellow members can connect with you based on shared interests and expertise. If you have questions, please email communications@montgomerywomen.org.