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Greetings,
March begins our gradual movement into a long-awaited spring. It also honors Women’s Herstory Month. An important aspect of celebrating women leaders is the ability to tell our own stories, share lessons learned, and provide guidance to future generations.
Before I introduce our 2025 Women’s Herstory Month contributors, I’d like to share a few pertinent facts on women in the U.S. workforce, particularly in leadership roles:
According to Lisa Brown Johnson, Founder and CEO of NonProfit HR, “Women now hold nearly 57% of CEO or executive director positions in nonprofits — far outpacing the 8.2% of women leading Fortune 500 companies.”
Pew Research Center author Katherine Schaeffer reports that “women outnumber men in the U.S. college-educated workforce, now making up 51% of those ages 25” and older yet “women still lag in top leadership positions in business and government.”
Forbes, author Lisa Z. Lindahl shares that “companies with women executives are 30% more likely to outperform other companies.”
The number of women in leadership roles has increased in the U.S., but there is still much room for growth. We are fortunate to have an abundance of women leading Lake County-serving organizations. It is my pleasure to share a few pearls of wisdom from four such leaders: Anya Tanyavutti, Willow House Executive Director; Pat Davenport, A Safe Place CEO; Kristi Long, United Way of Lake County President and CEO, and Dr. Dora Maya, Arden Shore President and CEO.
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Anya
What is your favorite thing about leading your organization and/or working with the populations served by your program?
What I love most about leading Willow House is our mission- to provide grief support and education for youth, families, schools, and other communities grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or child. Our free services are where hope lives and healing begins, and the incredible community of mission-impacted stakeholders that are the heartbeat of everything we do, from the Board to participants and our all-important volunteers- our mission is ever present!
What is one leadership lesson that you have learned on your journey that you would like to share with girls and women who are earlier in their leadership journeys?
As a purpose-driven leader, my primary advice to girls and women is to cultivate your truest and highest selves and enter every room, letting your values and your talents shine for the greatest good!
Some quotes to live by in leadership...
"if you want to go fast-go alone, if you want to go far-go together."
"people don't remember what you say, they remember how you make them feel."
"may your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears."
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Pat
What is your favorite thing about leading your organization and/or working with the populations served by your program?
My favorite thing about leading A Safe Place and working with survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking is that together, we make a difference. This is not a job; it is a calling and my life mission to do the work we do at A Safe Place. Our staff, community, and partners like HFNLC work with A Safe Place, and together, we help transform lives. We assist in creating safe and healthy environments for people and that makes me believe that if we continue to do that, one person at a time, one family at a time, one day we live in a violence-free community.
What is one leadership lesson that you have learned on your journey that you would like to share with girls and women who are earlier in their own leadership journeys?
Teamwork makes the dream work. Without all of the support from our team, organizations like HFNLC, the community (local and statewide) we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Working in silos does not bring strength, only isolation. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!
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Kristi
What is your favorite thing about leading your organization and/or working with the populations served by your program and/or what will you miss the most?
I absolutely love United Way's mission, especially the focus on early education. I have always been motivated by the thought that a five-year-old who is not ready for kindergarten might feel like a failure at age 5. And that breaks my heart, especially in a community that has so many resources. I'm proud of the progress we've made but also know there is so much more to do. Everything United Way has worked on has been successful because of partners. Other non-profits, government, the leadership of our Board, and the commitment and hardwood of our staff. So bottom-line, I will miss the wonderful people I've had the opportunity to work with and to learn from.
What is one leadership lesson that you have learned on your journey that you would like to share with girls and women who are earlier in their own leadership journeys?
Early in my career with United Way of Lake County I had the opportunity to work with an Executive Coach. The first question he asked me was, " What is your job? Why do you get paid?" I remember that I stammered a bit, talked about leading staff, engaging with Board members, managing meaningful programs, etc. and then he said no, I was wrong. (he said it in a nice way!) He shared with me that I was paid to get results.
At first I thought that was too simplistic but over the years I have thought about that lesson whenever I've had competing priorities or have had to make decisions about how best to use resources including donations, staff time, Board attention.
So, my advice to other women is to have goals you can measure and make sure they lead to the results you truly want for yourself and for your organization. Being able to always ask myself was this activity/program/focus going to achieve the results I wanted, helped me focus many, many times.
Would you like to share any big plans after you retire?
I am moving to the Phoenix area. I love the desert, and you know it's a dry heat! I'm excited to learn about a new community and plan to do some hands-on volunteering with youth.
I will miss the wonderful community of non-profits in Lake County. It's been an honor to work with so many visionary partners.
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Dr. Dora
What is your favorite thing about leading your organization and/or working with the populations served by your program, and what will you miss the most?
One of my proudest achievements as a leader has been establishing Arden Shore’s Latino Initiative in the early 2000s, which laid the foundation for the organization’s deep commitment to serving Latino families. We deliberately invested in bilingual staff, using endowment funds to build a team to meet families in their language and culture. This initiative led to the creation of Arden Shore’s Intact Family Preservation program with DCFS. Over time, we became the primary child welfare provider for Latino families in Northeast Illinois. More than just expanding services, this initiative set a precedent for Arden Shore’s values—ensuring every family, regardless of background, has access to compassionate, culturally responsive care.
What I will miss most is the people. For 21 years, I commuted from Chicago to Waukegan every day, and not once did I regret coming into the office. I knew I was exactly where I belonged. I have no regrets because I had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary team—of dedicated professionals who do a difficult and often thankless job. They witness hardship and trauma daily, yet they continue forward because they believe in the mission at their core. Their resilience and heart have driven Arden Shore’s impact, and I will deeply miss this family.
What is one leadership lesson that you have learned on your journey that you would like to share with girls and women who are earlier in their own leadership journeys?
Set clear priorities, be confident, and trust yourself. Leadership requires making tough decisions, and it’s essential to stay true to your values and not be swayed by pressure or fear. Especially in mission-driven work, setting priorities is key—strong organizations create the most significant impact, and leadership requires making decisions that ensure long-term sustainability. The best leaders surround themselves with people who share their commitment to the mission, encourage healthy debate, and challenge them in ways that foster growth—not in ways that undermine or manipulate. Stay focused on the greater purpose, and don’t compromise your integrity to appease others.
While it may not be new advice, I still find it necessary to remind women in leadership that confidence is not aggression and strength is not a flaw. Women have been navigating this double standard for generations, but that doesn’t make it any less real. Don’t waste energy softening yourself to be more palatable—own your decisions, trust your expertise, and lead with conviction.
Would you like to share any big plans after you retire?
I am looking forward to a new chapter—relocating to Puerto Rico, traveling, and spending time with my family. I am especially excited to welcome my first grandchild this spring and to embrace every moment I can with him and my loved ones. After decades of service, this next phase will be one of adventure, rest, and most importantly, love.
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It is vital to see women from different cultural and generational backgrounds in leadership positions. It is also useful to hear from women leaders in different stages of their leadership journeys, whether it is newer leaders like Anya, who is not new to leadership but is new to leading Willow House, an organization with programs impacting Lake County, to Pat with more than a decade of experience at A Safe Place, to retiring leaders Kristi and Dr. Dora who have led their respective organizations (United Way of Lake County and Arden Shore) for over twenty years! Representation is so important in cultivating the next generation of women leaders.
I thank Anya, Pat, Kristi, and Dr. Dora for sharing their leadership and perspectives. I wish Kristi and Dr. Dora well in their retirement (and look forward to visiting both when in Phoenix and Puerto Rico)!
In celebration,
Venoncia
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