Utah Women & Leadership Podcast

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Political Representation, Boards and Commissions, & Civic Engagement/Advocacy. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Political Representation, Boards and Commissions, & Civic Engagement/Advocacy. First, Becki Wright, Founder & CEO of Proximity and a board member of Utah Women Run; Nina Barnes, a board member of Utah Women Run and The Policy Project; and Luna Banuri, founding board member and executive director of the Utah Muslim Civic League. Support the show

Research shows that organizations will increasingly thrive when both men and women hold leadership roles. Gender inclusivity benefits not only businesses, but also entities such as churches, state legislatures, city councils, state governments, and state and local boards and commissions. Research demonstrates the need for the government—and democratic governance processes in general—to reflect gender diversity accurately within its constituency at all levels. Utah is no exception. In fact, in Utah (Code 67-1-11), since 1992, appointing authorities were supposed to “strongly consider nominating, appointing, or reappointing a qualified individual whose gender is in the minority” on state boards and commissions. Yet, not until recently has this become a priority. In 2016 and 2019, the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) published research and policy briefs focused on analyzing the gender composition of Utah state boards and commissions. Recently, the UWLP published an update on the status of women on Utah state boards and commissions in 2023, which is the topic of this episode. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Brooke Scheffler, Director of Boards and Commissions for Utah State Government; and Nina Barnes, a community champion and advocate for education, politics, and empowering underserved populations, and a board member of Utah Women Run. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Domestic Violence. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Domestic Violence. First, Sierra Holmes, Programs Director at Fight Against Domestic Violence; and Erin Jemison, Director of Public Policy at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Poverty & Homelessness. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Poverty & Homelessness. First, Karen McCandless, CEO of Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo, and Peggy Green, Program Manager for the Utah Office of Homeless Services. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Finance. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Finance. First, Melanie Jewkes, an Extension professor for Utah State University; Susan Speirs, CEO of the Utah Association of CPAs; and Brittany Griffin, Policy & Communications Deputy at the Utah Treasurer’s Office. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Sexual Assault. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Sexual Assault. First, Liliana Olvera-Arbon, the Executive Director of the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Bethany Crisp, the Systems Director for the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault; and Gary Scheller, the Director of the Utah Office for Victims of Crime. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Workforce Development. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Workforce Development. First, Robbyn Scribner, co-founder of Tech-Moms, and Kathryn Thomas, Executive Director of People Helping People. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Leadership Development. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Leadership Development. First, Shirlayne Quayle, co-founder of the Women’s Influence Network; and Jamie Shaw, Operations Director at Event Knowledge Services. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is the Gender Pay Gap. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the three leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of the Gender Pay Gap. First, Katie Witt, a Community Advocate; Rachel Cottam, Head of Content at Lexion; and Deneiva Knight, External Affairs Director for Comcast. Support the show

A Bolder Way Forward is a statewide movement that is bringing together businesses, organizations, and individuals who are either already doing related work around women and girls or are ready to get engaged and lean into the work. If we are serious about ensuring that Utah women, girls, and their families better thrive, we need to create positive change much faster. A Bolder Way Forward leaders are working together to accomplish bold goals in 18 critical areas that require societal change, and one of these is Child Sexual Abuse. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by the three leaders who are heading up the area—called spokes in the Wheel of Change— of Child Sexual Abuse. First, Laurieann Thorpe, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Utah; Chris Yadon, Managing Director of Saprea; and Jake Neeley, Director of the Malouf Foundation. Support the show

A single mother is a primary caregiver of one or more dependent children and identifies as separated, widowed, divorced, or never married. According to Utah data, there were 70,647 single-parent families with children in 2021; of these, 69.2% were headed by single mothers. Being a single parent can present specific challenges for the parent as well as their children. Given that most single-parent households in the US and Utah are headed by women, understanding the unique needs of single mothers nationally and within Utah is an essential step in tailoring programs to help women thrive. This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research snapshot about single mothers in Utah. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Kristy Hodson, a professor of Professional Communication & Leadership at Western Governors University, and Kathryn Thomas, executive director of People Helping People, a nonprofit that assists low-income women and single mothers. Support the show

In 2022, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP), and the Cox–Henderson Administration partnered to launch a one-year initiative titled 100 Companies Championing Women, which is the topic of this episode. It was part of the Inspire InUtah campaign’s mandate to support women in the workplace at all levels, including entrepreneurs -- specifically, the 100 highlighted businesses around the state that have incorporated family-friendly policies and practices and have implemented programs that improve recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing women employees and leaders. The overarching goal was to provide resources for women companies that facilitate success now and in the future. Hundreds of Utah companies and organizations submitted their nominations and the top 100 were selected. The UWLP then completed research of the 100 companies’ best practices for women in the workplace. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Nubia Peña, the Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, and Kori Ann Edwards, the Managing Director at the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. Support the show

National and statewide studies continue to show that women and girls in Utah are not thriving in critical areas. Year after year, Utah continues to have high levels of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and gender-based discrimination, while also ranking as the worst state for women’s equality and having low levels of women’s leadership representation in nearly all domains, including politics and business. Although the needle has moved slightly in a few areas, with its current trajectory it will take two, three, or even four decades to make notable progress. It is time for Utah to embrace A Bolder Way Forward (BWF), a new statewide movement, and the topic of this episode. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Nubia Peña, the Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs; and Sui Lang Panoke, the Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion at Zions Bank. Support the show

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States (US) and the leading cause of cancer death for women in the state of Utah. One in eight women in the US will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Mammography has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality and thus is a critical screening tool that can increase the chance of early detection and treatment. This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research snapshot that charts current Utah mammography rates and discusses mammography more generally. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Dr. Sarah Colonna, a physician with the Center for Excellence in Women’s Health, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Marie Nagata, Program Manager for the Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Support the show

Utah has one of the highest economic growth rates in the nation, and the ability to attract, retain, and provide positive workplace environments for women will be critical for future growth and success. However, Utah ranks as one of the worst states for women’s equality in many areas, including wages, education, health, and political empowerment. It is critical to understand what obstacles stand in the way of closing gender gaps so that Utah’s workforce and economy can thrive and meet its potential. One set of obstacles relates to “gender bias,” a term used to describe various barriers embedded in workplace cultures that disadvantage women, either overtly (e.g., harassment) or covertly (e.g., policies that inadvertently benefit men more than women). This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research and policy brief about gender bias in the Utah workplace. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Dr. Helen Knaggs, author of the brief and Vice President of Research & Development for Nu Skin Enterprises, and Dr. Emily Swensen Darowski, the Associate Director of the UWLP. Support the show

Pregnancy, giving birth, and caring for a newborn are challenging. Most mothers naturally experience the “baby blues” during the first two weeks after delivery, when they report feeling anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, or weepy. Usually, these symptoms resolve on their own within two weeks. Some women, however, experience mental health concerns beyond the baby blues, such as postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) is a term used to encompass a range of disorders that can occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum. This episode highlights a Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) research snapshot that summarizes data about PMADs in Utah, reviews relevant information for patients and healthcare providers, and aims to raise awareness about this issue so that more women receive appropriate screening and care. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Rachel Denton, a licensed social worker, and Madison Harmer, a graduate research assistant. Support the show

Fertility—or the ability to conceive and bear children—has impacted women’s lives for millennia. Cultural, social, economic, religious, and personal factors have influenced questions of whether to have a child, when to have a child, how many children to have, and in what context to have them. The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) published a research snapshot to understand trends and changes related to fertility in Utah, which is the topic of this episode. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Kaitlyn Pieper, Executive Director of the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion; and Mallory Bateman, Director of Demographic Research and State Data Center Coordinator at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. Support the show

Domestic violence (DV) is a serious and widespread issue affecting women and families in Utah. One in three Utah women will experience some form of contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in her lifetime (33.6%), which is close to the national average (37.3%). The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) examined domestic violence among Utah women in 2017 and recently published an updated 2023 report, which this podcast episode highlights. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the UWLP, is joined by Christiana Wagstaff, Victim Advocate at Utah Valley University, and Erin Jemison, Director of Public Policy at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. Support the show

The Utah Women & Leadership Project and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity have created an inspiring initiative to identify and highlight 100 Utah companies that champion women. By supporting employees through education, family-friendly benefits, policies, or programs that advance women, these companies have created an environment where women can thrive. This episode highlights Weave. Weave is changing how small business can communicate, operate, and grow through an all-on-one platform—one place for every customer interaction. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project, is joined by Brooke Shreeve, Chief People Officer, and Erin Goodsell, Chief Legal Officer. Support the show

The Utah Women & Leadership Project and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity have created an inspiring initiative to identify and highlight 100 Utah companies that champion women. By supporting employees through education, family-friendly benefits, policies, or programs that advance women, these companies have created an environment where women can thrive. This episode highlights Northrop Grumman. They design, develop, build, and support some of the world’s most advanced products, from cutting-edge aircraft and next-generation spacecraft to unrivaled cyber security systems and all-seeing radars. Dr. Susan Madsen, Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project, is joined by Wendy Williams, Vice President of Propulsion Systems, and Leila Milliken, Sr. Principal Human Resources Business Partner. Support the show