Year after year, the Women of Western Wake inspire us with their insights and accomplishments. As we look back on the first 20 years of remarkable honorees, their wise words still resonate today.
May these thoughts on leadership, risk taking, self-confidence, and what really matters continue to inspire you.
“I like to challenge people. When the standard is high, you get better results. Doing what you have always done will get you what you have always gotten.”
— Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, 2005
“It’s important to intentionally include different people and to make every single human being that you come into contact with feel important, valued, and of worth.”
— Tamani Anderson Powell, 2023
“You have to not lose the focus of having fun. Laughing is medicine for the soul, and it’s not just a cliché; it really isn’t. When you’re happiest with helping others, it really does come back to you. It’s such a rewarding feeling you carry on.”
— Veronica Bent, 2021
“Balance is relative. I truly believe you can have it all, you just may not be able to have it all at the same time, and it may not look like what your neighbors have. But you’ve got to decide what’s truly important to you.”
— Cynthia Marshall, 2010
“I don’t want to miss a drop of the experience of being human, the gift it is to be alive on this planet. Show up for school, Earth school! You’ll find something juicy and wonderful in every day.”
— Darelyn “DJ” Mitsch, 2013
“We place limits on ourselves sometimes; we forget how capable we are. We all go through certain types of fears, and those fears sometimes hold us back. If we could get over those fears, we would realize we can do it.”
— Nur Onvural, 2016
“I think women in general start something and then they don’t want to disappoint others, so they don’t want to say no or they don’t want to change course. It’s really important to value yourself and know if it’s right for you or if there’s something else out there for you.”
— Debra Goldman, 2011
“We must shift and ensure we are not a society of entitlement. We will not prosper if we are. We need to make sure people realize the benefits of volunteering. Yes, we can’t save the world, but you can do your part, and everyone else can do their part.”
— Charmaine Riggins, 2022
“Finally, I am able to say that I belong in whatever and whichever the hell room I choose to be in.”
— Katie Gailes, 2024
“Unless you’re challenging yourself and doing something a little bit scary, you’re not growing. I would encourage people to do the scary thing that helps you discover your purpose, because it really makes all the difference in the world.”
— Jackie Ferguson, 2022
“I do one bit at a time and do my part. If everyone just did a little more, we could transform the world.”
— Rev. Dr. Rose Cornelious, 2020
“It’s easy to be the go-to person for everything, but that is not the definition of balance. Balance is not you handling everything.”
— Courtney Tellefsen, 2018
“A leader is someone who has the vision of what can be, is willing to take bold action to get the job done, even if means incurring criticism, and is an ambassador for the people she represents.”
— Jennifer Robinson, 2014
“Try to leave people happier than when you find them.”
— Juliann Zoetmulder, 2012
“On running a small business: “You’ve got to be really strong, really able to take on a lot of things at one time, and own everything you do — good or bad. The buck stops with you.
There’s no turning behind you and letting somebody else catch you if you fall.”
— Christine Hilt, 2012
“If you don’t take risks, you’re not trying hard enough. Failure is part of moving forward. It is disappointing to fail, but it teaches teams it’s okay to try. Otherwise, where is the innovation? Own your failures, and find the pathway out.”
— Kim Kitchings, 2016
“People who think they can do it alone are often misguided.”
— Susan Braun, 2014
“My favorite saying is, ‘Leap, and the net shall appear.’ So, I put myself in situations where I don’t know anything and I’m like, ‘I’ll figure this out.’ For that reason, I’ve had a lot of experiences that have made me grow really quickly, have shaped me, and that’s a message I can give to others: ‘Yeah, it’s scary, but you know at the end you’re gonna be better for it.’”
— Ravila Gupta, 2019
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