Lunch With Famous Women Throughout History
To celebrate Women’s History Month, we asked the WISE Marketing & Communications Committee members to share the woman they would most love to have lunch with and why. Take a look at some of the amazing women who were chosen.
Elysia Handy, TreeHouse Foods: Sonia Sotomayor
I choose Sonia Sotomayor because she is a strong, smart, hardworking Puerto Rican like me. Both of our parents were born and raised in Puerto Rico and then moved to the States when they were young adults. The challenges our parents went through to move away from their families, learn a new language, and start new careers is what I believe instilled a strong work ethic in both of us. I look up to her because she overcame all odds after losing her dad when she was 9 years old and growing up in the Bronx projects. She didn’t let anything stop her success. She was named valedictorian of her high school, received a full scholarship to Princeton University, and then went on to Yale Law School. She is a true role model and inspiration for all, especially people who feel marginalized or underrepresented. She is now the 1st Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court Justice and 3rd Female justice in U.S. Supreme Court in History.
Giorgia Giove, Sofidel: Former First Lady Michelle Obama
I cannot think of another woman who has had a bigger impact on American society than former First Lady, Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama was the first African-American First Lady of the United States. She became a role model for women through her many initiatives, including advocating for higher education and international adolescent girls’ education. In 2020, she launched the Reach Higher initiative to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. She also championed the education of girls and women.
With her husband, President Barack Obama, Mrs. Obama launched Let Girls Learn, a U.S. government initiative aimed at helping adolescent girls attain a quality education that empowers them to reach their full potential. The President notably believed that educating girls is a national security issue. When girls are educated, communities are better equipped to cope with adversity, withstand crises, and make investments in the future.
In 2011, Mrs. Obama launched Joining Forces as an effort to motivate and harness support across the public and private sectors to support service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, with current First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Dr. Biden continued Mrs. Obama’s work to support the military family community through the Biden Foundation, specifically focusing on military child education, military spouse employment, and mental health.
While advocating for others, Mrs. Obama also focused her energies on her two young daughters – Sasha and Malia. Through her guidance, they grew into accomplished young women. Part of her role as a mother included encouraging healthy eating habits. She also helped lead a national public awareness effort to improve the health of all American children. Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move program offered parents helpful information that support healthy choices, provided healthier foods in schools, ensured that every family has access to healthy, affordable food and helped kids become more physically active.
Education and good health are vital components for the future of our country and us as individuals. Mrs. Obama’s work has inspired myself and millions of others to make our voices heard to effect change that will have a positive impact on the world around us.
Miranda Penna (Sakschek), Winland Foods, Inc: Sheryl Sandberg
An inspirational woman I’d love to have lunch with is Sheryl Sandberg. Sheryl is an American business executive, writer and philanthropist who served as Facebook’s COO from 2008 – 2022, and prior to Facebook, Sheryl was the Vice President of global online sales and operations at Google and was involved in its philanthropic arm Google.org. Before that, she served as Chief of Staff for United States Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers. What I appreciate most about Sheryl, however, is the openness and guidance she provides in her book, “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” In her book, she breaks down her personal and professional career path, and encourages women to seek challenges and push their career goals. Above all of this, she demonstrates to her readers that it is possible to be a successful woman, both in the workplace and at home. Her words reassure her readers that becoming a mother does not mean it’s necessary to put your career on pause. Her words have inspired me to continue striving in my career, and that yes, I can also become a future mother and excel at that, too!
Shanaz Ahmed, Albertson’s: Indra Nooyi.
As a woman, woman of color and an immigrant, I identify and resonate with none better than Indra Nooyi. Coming from a very humble background, she went on to become the first female CEO of a Global Food Company PepsiCo. She was the first woman of color and an immigrant to head a Fortune 50 company. One of the hallmarks of her leadership style was how she connected with employees of all levels. During her time as CEO, she would take time out of her schedule to write personal letters to her employees’ parents letting them know how their children were making an impact and how proud they should be of them. She was also a pioneer of parental paid leave for both mothers and fathers leading to highest employee retention. Indra also paved way for women empowerment in workplace and championed DEI. She continues to inspire women across the globe especially immigrants and women color on how we can dare to achieve what we dream of by sheer grit and hard work.
Kim Coovert, Sofidel: Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner
I selected Capt. Rosemary Bryant Mariner because I cannot think of a more challenging place for a trailblazer than the United States Military. She graduated from Purdue at 19 as the first woman to earn a degree in aeronautics and was already a licensed pilot before joining the Navy in 1973. She completed officer candidate school and was one of the first six women to earn their wings as a United States Naval Aviator in 1974. She had an exceptional career and was the first female military pilot to fly a tactical jet and the first woman to command an operational naval aviation squadron when she led VAQ-34 during Operation Desert Storm.
She retired from the Navy in 1997 after 24 years of service with over 3,500 flight hours in 15 types of aircraft. She taught military history at the University of Tennessee and served as an advisor on national defense policy and women’s integration into the military for the Navy. She passed away in 2019 at 65.
“In modern warfare, the emphasis is not on physical strength, but on brain power operating sophisticated weapons systems,” Mariner said. “A machine gun is a great equalizer.”
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/trailblazers/rosemary-mariner.html
Shannen Bornsen, Cargill: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The “Notorious RBG” has always inspired me as a professional and as a woman who lived with purpose. She was a woman who believed in her talent and didn’t let any obstacle thrown in front of her deter her desire to be educated, succeed as an attorney and attain her professional goals. Those obstacles she encountered set a course where she became a tireless advocate for equality. I also admire that Ruth understood that she needed to balance her professional life with time for her family. She seemed to manage the pressure of having to prove herself daily to colleagues and being present for her family rather elegantly. And through the challenges and constant balancing act, she was still a woman who treated others with respect, was able to build friendships across aisles and conduct herself with dignity.