2. You shared that Gloria was a catalyst for you choosing to leave Goldman Sachs at the peak of your career. Tell us more.
Two years after our first meeting, my role in the firm had evolved into a senior leadership position in human capital management where my focus was very centered on women’s careers. I was having one of those days where I was questioning whether or not I was making a difference. I called a friend, a fellow Goldman partner, and asked if I could come over to talk as I was thinking about quitting. She said I could come over, but we had to talk after her dinner party – which Gloria Steinem and her husband were attending. I don’t think I had seen Gloria since the event in 1999, so I excitedly accepted the invitation to join them for dinner.
It was there that I learned that Gloria is one of the world’s foremost experts on the character of Wonder Woman. In fact, the first issue of Ms. Magazine in 1972 had Wonder Woman on the cover. My head almost exploded at this revelation, as I was, and still am, a massive Wonder Woman fan and collector. Not only that, but one of the reasons I was considering leaving Goldman was because I had an idea for a Wonder Woman screenplay that I wanted to pursue.
Over dinner we spoke about Wonder Women, the Gnostic Gospels, and so many other topics, and it was magical. After dinner, I had time to talk alone with my friend, and I felt that the whole chance encounter was a sign that I should just trust the universe and take a leap. I resigned from Goldman soon thereafter.
3. So, did you write the Wonder Woman screenplay? When did you see Gloria next?
The movie is a long story, but the short answer is no. I pursued the screenplay idea for a while, and even went so far as to set up a film production company in this pursuit. What is wild is that a big part of the narrative I envisioned was how the character of Wonder Woman would teach other women to step into their own unique superpowers. In many ways, it was a foreshadowing of what would come next for me.
However, I did write (with help) a 70-page paper called “Why No Wonder Woman?” and used it to start a campaign to get a Wonder Woman movie made. This was in 2013, after several attempts by Hollywood to get the character back on screen had gone nowhere. The first Wonder Woman film was still years away, but when that release finally happened in 2017, I managed to get myself invited to the premiere in Los Angeles and had a picture taken with Gal Gadot.
As for Gloria, I encountered her quite a few times over the next seven years. After leaving Goldman, I joined the board of many women-focused non-profits, and I attended many fundraising events for organizations like the Ms. Foundation and The Women’s Media Center. Gloria was everywhere those days (and still is!), showing up to lend her support.
This is one of the biggest lessons I have taken from Gloria over the years: You have to show up!
4. In 2009, you joined the Women Moving Millions (WMM) Campaign, and later went on to be named a co-founder of the organization. Tell us more about that.
I was one of the approximately 100 women who were part of the first WMM campaign, which meant I made a public commitment to give a million dollars to women-focused organizations. That campaign ended in 2009, but a small group of us worked with WMM Founder Helen LaKelly Hunt to take it from campaign to community. Gloria was a constant source of encouragement and support to us during this time.
I recently found a letter she wrote called “The Top Ten Reasons Why the World Needs Women Moving Millions.” The number one point she wrote was this: “You are the community of women with the possibility of challenging, naming, shaming, and otherwise putting a real dent in the masculinization of wealth. Unless we end it, we can never end the feminization of poverty. That is the basis of everything.” Again, BAM!
I dedicated almost 10 years of my life to building Women Moving Millions, and it felt like I was participating in a real-life narrative of my own Wonder Woman screenplay. WMM’s efforts were primarily centered around inviting high-net-worth women to step into their power, specifically their financial power, and align it with feminist values.
I know the word feminism is not embraced by a lot of women, and personally, that is heartbreaking. But that is why I think it’s time that we, in particular all women, reclaim it. I went to Uplevyl, a new AI tool built by women for women, and asked for its definition of feminism:
According to Uplevyl, “Feminism, a term particularly significant for us women, can be defined as a social, political, and economic movement that strives for the equal rights of women. It's an ideology that believes in the social, political, and economic equality of all genders, and aims to address, challenge, and eradicate societal norms and laws that discriminate against women based on their gender.
“Feminism works towards achieving equal opportunities and rights for women in various areas such as education, employment, and politics. Remember, feminism is not about women being superior to men, it is about achieving equality and fairness. It empowers us women to challenge the status quo, to push the boundaries, and to strive for greater accomplishments.”
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In honor of my years of dedication to WMM, I was named Co-Founder of Women Moving Millions, Inc., alongside Helen LaKelly Hunt. Our mission under my leadership was to “catalyze unprecedented resources for the advancement of women and girls.” There were many times during my tenure when we visited Gloria in her home asking for advice, and she repeatedly showed up to speak to our members. That is another lesson I have learned from Gloria: Always be generous with my social capital.
