• Mindy Hargesheimer, Founder of Kansas City Bucket List, LLC
  • The Kansas City Bucket List Podcast

Kansas City Bucket List

Content Creator & Storyteller

  • Mindy Hargesheimer, Founder of Kansas City Bucket List, LLC
  • The Kansas City Bucket List Podcast

 This transcript was exported on Jul 28, 2026 - view latest version here. 

Speaker 1 (00:00:00): 

All right. Wendy Doyle, welcome to the podcast. 

Speaker 2 (00:00:02): 

Thank you so much for having me, Mindy. 

Speaker 1 (00:00:04): 

I am thrilled to have you here. Okay, so you are CEO of United We - Yes. Which is women's  empowerment. Yes. Okay. I just went to the Champion for Change event at CPKC Stadium, which was.  When was that? A couple weeks ago? 

Speaker 2 (00:00:17): 

Yes. 

Speaker 1 (00:00:18): 

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know who you guys were before. 

Speaker 2 (00:00:21): 

Not uncommon. 

Speaker 1 (00:00:22): 

Okay. We 

Speaker 2 (00:00:22): 

Hear that frequently. 

Speaker 1 (00:00:24): 

Yes. And I, this is not being dramatic. I was captivated with this event. Um, and I immediately emailed  your team and said, "I have to have Wendy on." Like I was so enthralled with what you guys are doing.  Um, I think obviously it resonates a lot with me. I'm a female. Um, I'm a mom of two girls and I am very  driven, entrepreneurial, especially with the podcast. This is my biggest entrepreneurial thing yet. Um, and  I literally was like taking notes, um, when you were talking at the event. Um, a few of you guys, so we'll  talk about that. But I just wanted to thank you for doing that event because it was so impressive. 

Speaker 2 (00:01:00): 

I'm so glad you were there. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:01:01): 

It was, 

Speaker 2 (00:01:01): 

It was a great morning. It 

Speaker 1 (00:01:03): 

It was beautiful. The

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Speaker 2 (00:01:04): 

Weather cooperated. 

Speaker 1 (00:01:05): 

It did. And there were so many people there. I honestly didn't know what to expect. Um, I parked and I  was like, "Oh, there's like thousands of people here." <laugh> I really didn't know what was gonna  happen. And I, it was just so much fun. So you guys pulled off - Thank you for being there. An amazing  event which we'll talk about. So let's talk about you though. 

Speaker 2 (00:01:21): 

Okay. 

Speaker 1 (00:01:22): 

Who are you? Where are you from? How did you get into United We? 

Speaker 2 (00:01:25): 

Well, I am from middle of Missouri. Okay. Down in Warrensburg, Missouri is where I'm originally grew  up. Um, came to Kansas City to go to college. Okay. I went to Rockhurst University. At the time it was  Rockhurst College. 

Speaker 1 (00:01:40): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:01:41): 

Um, a little bit of a name change. And then, you know, really identified a, during my time there at  Rockhurst, just what I was really focusing in on. I'm an English literature major. 

Speaker 1 (00:01:54): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:01:54): 

And, um - 

Speaker 1 (00:01:55): 

What did you wanna do with that? 

Speaker 2 (00:01:57): 

I really wanted to just spend some time in a public relations firm. Okay. Which I did. Right out of college,  I did do that - Got it. For, for a stint. And then I had a mentor who was really, you know, kind of pressing  me a little bit to think about other things, and I ended up in the nonprofit sector. Okay. And when I really  landed there, it, it wasn't as big of a business and an economic driver as it is today. 

Speaker 1 (00:02:22): 

Generally speaking.

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Speaker 2 (00:02:23): 

Generally speaking. Just the whole world of it. Yeah. It was just, you know, really starting to, you know,  come together professionally. Yeah. And that's where I've spent my entire career. I've been at United We  for 13 years. Yep. It's been, you know, just an extraordinary experience. Yeah. And what we do is we are  a think and do tank. 

Speaker 1 (00:02:42): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:02:42): 

And, um, what that really means is that we invest in research that really helps inform us, um, what are  some of the barriers. We target women's labor force participation as our north star and also civic  leadership. Mm-hmm. And then we get to work on some real solutions. Yeah. So our operating, um,  system is research solutions and results. 

Speaker 1 (00:03:06): 

Okay, cool. So how many people are working there today? How many people are part of United 

Speaker 2 (00:03:10): 

Week? We 

Speaker 1 (00:03:10): 

Have a 

Speaker 2 (00:03:10): 

Small team. 

Speaker 1 (00:03:11): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:03:11): 

We have, um - 

Speaker 1 (00:03:12): 

Small but mighty. 

Speaker 2 (00:03:13): 

Small but mighty. We have six full-time employees. Okay. But we really have win- wind beneath our  wings. We have just a number of contractors. Mm-hmm. So, um, really our whole team looks a- about 38  people. 

Speaker 1 (00:03:25): 

Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. So the organization, if I'm correct, goes back 35 years. 35 Speaker 2 (00:03:32):

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Years. 

Speaker 1 (00:03:32): 

Right. 

Speaker 2 (00:03:32): 

We're celebrating our 35th anniversary this year. Yes. 

Speaker 1 (00:03:34): 

Okay. So who started the organization? Yeah. That seems almost like maybe ahead of its time a little bit.  Very much ahead time. I have a lot of questions about this like - Yeah. Systemic situation with women in  the workforce, which I found so intriguing. 

Speaker 2 (00:03:46): 

So Mindy, it started in 1991 and we have evolved and changed the name. So it originally started as a  women's foundation. Okay. And the, it was started by Kansas City's, you know, influential women. It was  Karen Herman, Bunny Copagan, Shirley Hellsberg, Adele Hall, the 

Speaker 1 (00:04:07): 

Power House you would definitely recognize here. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:04:10): 

Women who really changed how women can operate in the city. Yeah. Um, and they were mentored by  Suwanee and Ellen Hunt. So part of the Hunt family, part of the Chief's - uh-huh. Um, family. And Helen  and Suwanee really started in the United States, the Women's Fund Movement. Okay. Which was really  about women pooling their funds together and then making impact back out into the community, which  really was the premise of the Women's Foundation. 

Speaker 1 (00:04:40): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (00:04:40): 

Raise money and then grant money out to women's, um, and girls' organizations or programming that  impacted them. 

Speaker 1 (00:04:47): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:04:48): 

Um, and so I've been with the organization 13 years. I was a donor to the Women's Foundation. I would  attend their annual events - Okay. Like what you just - Yeah. Attended for us. They would have an annual  luncheon every year and I would go. Um, and it really was just about the celebration of women in Kansas  City. Mm-hmm. And, um, just extraordinary of the, the progress and movement that really happened with  these visionary women. When I joined, that mission had really run its course and kind of checked the box,  you know, mission accomplished. Women were really coming into their own as business owners in the  corporate sector. Um - So

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Speaker 1 (00:05:27): 

This would have been roughly like 2013 or somewhere, is that you're, when you're referring to? Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:05:31): 

Yes. And, um, so philanthropy looked different. Yeah. And women were comfortable writing checks to  organizations. Didn't need necessarily a women's foundation to give to to grant. 

Speaker 1 (00:05:43): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:05:44): 

So, um, that's when we, the, the board really decided when they were hiring the next leader, they wanted  to do something different. Mm-hmm. So that was just, you know, an exciting opportunity for me 

Speaker 1 (00:05:56): 

To - Yeah, how did they, how did they identify you? 

Speaker 2 (00:05:58): 

I, you know what? It was so funny. I, um, they had a search firm and the third call I received from the  search firm about this position, I said, "You know what? This isn't right for me, but I'm gonna put a list  together of, of women who I think would be extraordinary in this and I'll meet with you." At the time, I  had a personal trip to Washington DC and when I was there, I went to meet with the Women's Foundation  in Washington DC. Mm-hmm. And I really got to see a different viewpoint of how that organization was  set up. So I came back to Kansas City and I 

Speaker 1 (00:06:35): 

Applied for the position. <laugh> I want it. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:06:39): 

So I applied for the position. Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 1 (00:06:41): 

And 

Speaker 2 (00:06:42): 

It's, um, it's been, I've never looked back. It's been the most extraordinary thing. 

Speaker 1 (00:06:47): 

Yeah. So what is the primary. I know you kind of referenced it, but what are currently like the main  objectives that you're hoping to move the needle on, like, in the short term? 

Speaker 2 (00:06:56): 

Yeah. So you think about so many nonprofits or businesses that are, have direct service touchpoints with  their clients or customers. Mm-hmm. And what is not happening is making time to be able to work on  systemic change. And that's where we saw an opportunity for the organization. Okay. Is to really lean into 

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systemic change. So - Yeah. What that really means is trying to change it for the long term. Mm-hmm.  You know, and really get to what is the problem. So that's really the premise, and we are focused on  economics. So whether that be as you as an entrepreneur - uh-huh. Or, um, a woman in the workplace, we  really wanna make it easy for women to work if that's what they want to do. Right. Um, or need to do. 

Speaker 1 (00:07:45): 

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I'm gonna be totally honest with you. When I was reading about focusing on  overcoming systemic barriers to women's economic development and civic leadership, I thought to  myself, wow, you don't typically think of the word systemic barriers as it pertains to women, right? Right.  For example, I had this amazing guy, um, Brandon Calloway, who came in for a podcast episode a couple  months ago. And he started a nonprofit Kansas City Gift. And it does nothing but raise funds for black  owned businesses in Kansas City to really kind of address that systemic barrier for black owned  businesses. So when I was thinking about women, like, I'm not naive, of course, to what women have  faced, but it was so interesting to me to think about it in the terms of systemic barriers that I was like, "Oh  my gosh, what does that actually mean today?" Right. 

(00:08:34): 

Like what, how do you guys define that? And like, what did it look like before you guys have made so  much progress, you know, over the last 35 years? 

Speaker 2 (00:08:43): 

Well, to really help us, the first thing that we did is spend time listening. Yeah. So we really wanted to  hear from women what were kitchen table conversations that you and your family are having just about,  you know, when it comes to your, your household budget or when it comes to work. And that really  helped us narrow our focus areas on what we are leaning into. Got it. 

Speaker 1 (00:09:04): 

But 

Speaker 2 (00:09:04): 

What also contributed to that decision making for us as an organization is we wanted to, it's very  important that we do not duplicate work that's already being done because there's so much work that  needs to be done. Yeah. Like what Brian's doing. We don't wanna replicate that. Right. Um, or we don't  wanna be polarizing. So we don't want to be on opposite ends of what someone else is wanting to do.  Sure. That really helped us kind of zero in on where we see ourself making the best. And we landed on  caregiving broadly because we know whether you're a woman entrepreneur or you're in the workplace, it's  a huge responsibility. And, um, and we also landed on occupational licensing. So we can talk more about  what that means, but this is really, we really tightened up our focus so that we can get results and impact. 

Speaker 1 (00:09:57): 

Okay. And you do that via research? Right. Investigate your research. And then through, is it through  funding? Is it through donations? Is it through education? Is it through kind of all of the above for like,  how do you end up connecting with women to, in a way that it does positively impact them - Yeah. Being  able to get more caregiving or to - Yeah. Get a civic role? 

Speaker 2 (00:10:17): 

We really are trying to educate the decision makers.

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Speaker 1 (00:10:20): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:10:20): 

So that would be a, um, in a corporate setting, that would be the leadership. 

Speaker 1 (00:10:26): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (00:10:26): 

Or when it comes to actually, you know, regulations or, um, really at systems change, we're talking with  policymakers. 

Speaker 1 (00:10:35): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:10:35): 

So that's where we lean into. And we know that that's where a lot of service delivery organizations don't  have the capacity to do. 

Speaker 1 (00:10:43): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:10:44): 

So that's where we are leaning into the decision makers. And then we wanna educate women broadly -  Yeah. Just about what the issues are. Mm-hmm. Um, but we need to hear from them too. So we engage  them - Yep. In this data collection work that we do. Yeah. So our research is both quantitative and  qualitative by listening and talking with women. 

Speaker 1 (00:11:06): 

What, so when you're going in and you're speaking to leaders of organizations - Yeah. So do you reach  out to them and say, "Hey, we'd love to come talk to you." Or do they find you guys and they invite you  in? 

Speaker 2 (00:11:15): 

They sometimes invite us in, but where we've really spent a lot of time is talking with policy makers.  Okay. Because that's where it, it really, the rubber hits the road, you know? Yeah. I was gonna say, what  are the like - They're decision 

Speaker 1 (00:11:27): 

Makers. What are the craziest, um, obstacles or like stigmas that you still feel like are as it pertains -  When we're doing this work. Women. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:11:36): 

You know, we are in the middle of the country, which is -

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Speaker 1 (00:11:39): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:11:39): 

Which is fairly conservative. 

Speaker 1 (00:11:42): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (00:11:42): 

And when it comes to caregiving, and we define caregiving broadly both childcare, but also we know a  lot of women are caring for their aging family members. Yeah, that's such a 

Speaker 1 (00:11:54): 

Hot topic anymore. 

Speaker 2 (00:11:55): 

Hot topic. Yeah. So caregiving broadly, so we're working both ends. 

Speaker 1 (00:11:58): 

Uh-huh. 

Speaker 2 (00:11:59): 

And, um, the biggest stigma is the solutions that a lot of these policy makers are saying can solve the  problem is women just need to stay home. 

Speaker 1 (00:12:11): 

That is still being articulated. 

Speaker 2 (00:12:13): 

Yes. 

Speaker 1 (00:12:14): 

That's the stem - systemic. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:12:16): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:12:16): 

I mean, it's hard for a lot of us to hear that, obviously. It is. Again, whether you choose to work outside of  the house or not, it's still the fact that that, like, is still being articulated, right? 

Speaker 2 (00:12:26): 

Right. Just as, you know, a solution to the problem.

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Speaker 1 (00:12:30): 

Mm-hmm. So, you know - How do you respond to that? Well, every single time you continue to hear that.  <laugh> 

Speaker 2 (00:12:35): 

Well, you know, it is, it is pretty hard to hear. I'm, you know, we're not in the 1950s. Right. We're in the  21st century, and it usually takes, you know, a lot of income to sustain families. Mm-hmm. And that is  not reality. Right. That's just not the way the world works 

Speaker 1 (00:12:55): 

Anymore. 

Speaker 2 (00:12:55): 

<laugh> 

Speaker 1 (00:12:55): 

I mean, we're in one of the most expensive times, of course, that many of us have been in. Um, as  somebody who's, uh, like, a little bit loud and bold, that is crazy to me, you know, that that's being said.  But I'm also aware of the fact, you know, like, of course, like, where it has stemmed from in the past and  whatever. But I just find it interesting to think how many people could stand there and say it without  being like, "You know what? I should probably shift my perspective and maybe not look at it that way  anymore and listen to you guys, obviously, what you're doing and get them to understand the other side." 

Speaker 2 (00:13:26): 

It, it creates interesting conversation. 

Speaker 1 (00:13:28): 

I 

Speaker 2 (00:13:28): 

Bet. <laugh> 

Speaker 1 (00:13:29): 

I kind of want to be a part of one of this. 

Speaker 2 (00:13:31): 

But, um, you know, what we've always done is led with research. Like - 

Speaker 1 (00:13:36): 

Yeah. You 

Speaker 2 (00:13:36): 

Know, this isn't, this isn't me 

Speaker 1 (00:13:38):

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Telling you - It's not opinions. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:13:40): 

This is, this is data informed, and this is what your constituents are saying in your district. So how can  you argue with that? You know, with the data and the facts. And then there is, you know, there has been  some times where we've changed hearts and we've changed minds. And that's what it's all about. 

Speaker 1 (00:13:58): 

Absolutely. 

Speaker 2 (00:13:59): 

Yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:13:59): 

That's what it's all 

Speaker 2 (00:14:00): 

About. Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:14:01): 

Can you give some examples of what those stats are? Like some of the research that you, um, rely on  heavily - Yeah. That are impressionable maybe? 

Speaker 2 (00:14:09): 

Well, you know, we have had a great partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Okay. 

Speaker 1 (00:14:14): 

And coming 

Speaker 2 (00:14:14): 

Out of the pandemic, they picked six states, um, that they were gonna focus on that really to impact, to  look at - uh-huh. 

(00:14:23): 

How childcare was impacting the economy. And then they picked Missouri. Okay. And in Missouri, it  was, um, almost 1.4 billion dollars lost in annual revenue to the state as a result of childcare. Mm-hmm.  So you often hear times too, "Well, my children are grown. I don't have to worry about childcare  anymore." Mm-hmm. Or you hear a senior saying, you know, "I, I have grandchildren, this isn't an issue."  Well, it's a problem for everyone. Yeah. Because when we are not all contributing to the economy - uh huh. At that level, it impacts all of us. Right. Um, and we know that this, that it, you know, Missouri was  one of six states, but apply it to Kansas or any other surrounding 

Speaker 1 (00:15:04): 

State - Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:15:04):

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It's pretty comparable in lost revenue - 

Speaker 1 (00:15:06): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:15:06): 

From the economy. 

Speaker 1 (00:15:08): 

What do we need to know about what current childcare kind of looks like? I mean, whether it's Missouri  or whether it's, like, generally, like, across the US, like, what, how is that being handled or, um, what's  given with that? You know what I mean? Like, what do we need to know about how the US takes care of  that? First of all, it's so 

Speaker 2 (00:15:26): 

Expensive. 

Speaker 1 (00:15:26): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:15:27): 

Okay? And that's, that is the single most, um, you know, kitchen table conversation - 

Speaker 1 (00:15:32): 

Yeah. Is the 

Speaker 2 (00:15:33): 

Cost of childcare. And so many families are 

Speaker 1 (00:15:35): 

Put in a position - 

Speaker 2 (00:15:36): 

And 

Speaker 1 (00:15:36): 

You're talking daycare. 

Speaker 2 (00:15:37): 

Daycare, afterschool care, summer camp, whatever it may be. Right. Mm-hmm. You know, just caring for  children in general. Yeah. Um, and, you know, just the cost is extraordinary. In, in both Kansas and  Missouri, the cost of infant care is equivalent or often more than in-state college tuition. 

Speaker 1 (00:15:56): 

Yeah. That's wild.

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Speaker 2 (00:15:58): 

And how can, you know, it puts families in a really tough position. Is it work or is it family? And then  who is, if there is dual income, who's the breadwinner? 

Speaker 1 (00:16:08): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:16:08): 

If you are choosing. And sometimes it's, it's the father that's gonna stay home. Yep. Because, so there are,  you know, it's staggering. The other big challenge is supply's not meeting demand. So it's oftentimes, um,  especially in childcare deserts, which is defined as three children in line for every one slot. Mm. So there's  

a waiting list - uh-huh. That's significant. Um, that's also cr- creating a problem. And then the, the  workforce. Yeah. And we've really paid attention to this as an organization because it's primarily a  women led workforce. Yeah. Women are doing this, this work. Mm-hmm. Um, which is why we jumped  in to really focus on this. We're focused on the business of doing childcare. We're not that service delivery  - Right. You know, component. Yeah. Um, we just wanna make it easy. If you wanna open up a childcare  facility as an entrepreneur, let's make it easy for you to do so. 

(00:17:02): 

Got it. So supplies not meeting demand, the cost, and then, and then leaning into quality. Mm-hmm. And  just the education outcomes, the long-term impact of not having good childcare systems in place. Yeah.  So it's compounding. It's complicated. It's not easy. 

Speaker 1 (00:17:17): 

I know. I'm thinking, so we did. So I, I told you our first daughter was born in Chicago. She went to  daycare because both my husband and I have always worked full-time outside the home. We moved here,  had our second daughter, and we had two kids in daycare at the same time. You know, like, I'm  appreciative, of course, that we were able to even do that, but you're also looking at it being like, this is  like another mortgage payment, right? Right. Like not what I wanna sign up for. Um, is it a loaded  question to ask, like, where, where do these, where does the pricing even start from? Yeah. Like what's at  the top that's going, "Hey, Missouri or Kansas, like, this is what your childcare is gonna cost. Don't care  what you think, you decide if you pay it or you stay home." You know? 

Speaker 2 (00:17:54): 

Yeah. It's really up to the provider - Okay. 

Speaker 1 (00:17:56): 

That's 

Speaker 2 (00:17:56): 

Doing, you know, that's determining the cost. 

Speaker 1 (00:17:59): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:17:59):

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But what is offsetting it, so many childcare facilities have figured out that it is too expensive based on the  regulations to have infants, because it usually requires two people per child, you know, and so the ability  to offer that when the workforce is not there - uh-huh. That makes, that helps, that drives up costs for the  other children. So based on that, um - Right. It also is a lot of providers receive subsidy payments. So that  

means the government is helping offset the cost based on your income level. Yeah. So that's another  factor that goes in. So it's not an easy answer. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot that fits into the equation to  determine how much am I gonna charge Mindy for childcare. 

Speaker 1 (00:18:49): 

Right. Yeah. How do you, like, what's your confidence level today as to, like, the movement and the work  being done - Yeah. Specifically as it pertains to childcare? 

Speaker 2 (00:18:57): 

Progress. What's ex - what's, you know, positive is it is there's a lot of awareness around it. Yeah. It's, it's  in conversation. Mm-hmm. That's important. Um, it's in conversation at the corporate level. Mm-hmm.  Knowing that recruitment retention strategy for employees, important. Um, in Kansas, I'm so excited. We  worked on and sent to Governor Kelly's desk to, for the creation of an office of early childhood. So that -  Okay. Um, opens officially July one. Okay. So right around the corner. What that means is there'll be  some, some cons- consolidation of a lot of the resources into one department. 

Speaker 1 (00:19:37): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:19:38): 

So I think that will really help expedite, you know, openings of childcare facilities. Kansas has done a  great job of, you know, kind of streamlining, organizing. But just having things in one place - uh-huh.  Will make it easier for all Kansans. To 

Speaker 1 (00:19:54): 

Get some change. 

Speaker 2 (00:19:55): 

Right. To see some change. Yeah. So we see some positive movement there. Okay. In Missouri, we  worked on, um, some research that we s- shared with G- Governor Kehoe. Mm-hmm. And he did an  executive order, and there is the rewriting of the childcare licensing regulations. 

Speaker 1 (00:20:12): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:20:13): 

And to the average person, the listener that's, or viewer watching this, it's like, why should I care about  this? So outdated. I can't even tell you. So for example - 

Speaker 1 (00:20:23): 

Sadly, probably not surprising, right? Uh,

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Speaker 2 (00:20:25): 

Right. Right. And in most states. So it's not, you know - Not just here. Yeah. In Illinois, you're required as  a childcare provider to carry coins when you take children on a field trip because you may need it to, um,  go to a payphone. How realistic is that? And if you don't, you can be cited, you can receive a citation. 

Speaker 1 (00:20:42): 

Oh. 

Speaker 2 (00:20:42): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:20:42): 

Interesting. Things you would never know about. 

Speaker 2 (00:20:44): 

Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:20:45): 

Yeah. Just 

Speaker 2 (00:20:45): 

Small things like that that are common sense - 

Speaker 1 (00:20:48): 

Yeah. In like 

Speaker 2 (00:20:49): 

Needing to modernize. Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:20:50): 

That's what's 

Speaker 2 (00:20:50): 

Happening in Missouri. 

Speaker 1 (00:20:52): 

Okay. Yeah. I can imagine that would be a lot of kind of red tape to get people to go look back at  everything and yeah. Well, so I though it was interesting. So you guys say our focus is simple, expanding  women's workforce participation, not as a social issue, but as an economic one. Yeah. And I though that  was really interesting because even like, as I mentioned, like, wow, I can't believe there are systemic  barriers for women still that that's happening. Again, aware of it, but I'm thinking more socially, right?  Like we should make this, um, talk about it socially. But can you talk a little bit more about why it's  important to point out the economic impact - Yeah. Versus us just talking about like, hey, socially, we  should be, um, you know, we shouldn't be pigeonholed into, you know, women should be at home or  whatever the things, the sentiments are being said.

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Speaker 2 (00:21:34): 

The economic case really helps influence decision makers to get that systemic change. Mm-hmm. So  that's really why we have leaned into that. So it's more of the dollar and sense of - Yeah. As to why.  Okay. Versus symbolic of, you know, more socializing or we, why are we pigeonholing, you know, more  of that symbolism - Right. Um, issues. And so that's why we've landed on the economics because we  know that if we can get women, you know, participating in the, in the workforce, if they choose to do so  or need to, that it can grow the overall economy in states by as much as 10 to 15%. Yeah, that's wild. So  you think about, you think about how much lost revenue. We just talked about, you know, in the billions  for just on childcare - Yeah. The impact of that on a state. And you think about, wow, it's, you know,  billions in the billions per state just because we can't get enough women out there working. 

Speaker 1 (00:22:31): 

Right. Caregiving being a number one - 

Speaker 2 (00:22:34): 

Caregiving. 

Speaker 1 (00:22:34): 

What else are some of the things that are impacting women from getting into the workforce if they want  to get into the 

Speaker 2 (00:22:39): 

Workforce? 

Speaker 1 (00:22:39): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:22:40): 

You know, it's often what we see around this whole caregiving thing, if women step out 

Speaker 1 (00:22:45): 

Of the 

Speaker 2 (00:22:45): 

Workforce and then want to reenter the challenges just around that per occupation. Okay. Which is why  we landed on this licensing, occupational licensing work that we're doing. Yeah. So that creates some  barriers of, you know, decision making based on what's happening, you know, from a family perspective.  And then when women do that, if they're in the workforce, think about they're not contributing to 401Ks.  Mm. And women typically live longer than men, six to seven years. Yep. And women are always  concerned about, am I gonna have enough money to live my life out? Right.That's 

Speaker 1 (00:23:22): 

Gonna happen. 

Speaker 2 (00:23:23):

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So it's compounding effect. Yeah. It's complicated. It's not easy. Mm-hmm. That's why we've really  leaned into the economics of it because that really helps influence policymakers. 

Speaker 1 (00:23:36): 

And what, so occupational 

Speaker 2 (00:23:38): 

Licensing, 

Speaker 1 (00:23:39): 

What does that mean exactly? 

Speaker 2 (00:23:40): 

So th- that means if you need to have a license to do your job, like a teacher - uh-huh. An attorney, a  physician, a nurse, you have expectations at the state level - uh-huh. Of what, how, how to have your,  how to have your license. Or even a cosmetologist having a license to do your hair. Yeah. Um, and we  know there, women hold a license at three times the rate that men do to do their profession. So that's  based on some research that we've done. Yeah. So again, women step out of the workforce, wanna  reenter. You know, after a few years, your license is not up to date and you've got to go through  continuing education credits or whatever it may be. Yeah. So there's a barrier there that we wanna work  on. Okay. Um, also if you wanna move between state lines, if you decide you're in Chicago and you  wanna move to Kansas City, your license may, will not transfer. 

Speaker 1 (00:24:37): 

My esthetician, shout out to Radiant Skin, they just moved from Kansas to Missouri and I, they were kind  of telling me a little bit about like the, how it's different. I was like, so interesting, like why? You know,  especially here it's always really weird with Kansas State. The state light, right. You know, you're like  hop skipping a jump and it changes everything in your business like that. And so that's a 

Speaker 2 (00:24:52): 

Perfect example - 

Speaker 1 (00:24:54): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:24:54): 

Of why we're working on this. 

Speaker 1 (00:24:55): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:24:56): 

And we work on, you know, a policy priority every legislative session in the states. In Kansas, we have  deregulated eyebrow threading. Um, do you know, it was required to have a cosmetology license. Um,  you probably heard -

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Speaker 1 (00:25:11): 

I mean, it gets so niche. It's so interesting. 

Speaker 2 (00:25:13): 

It's so 

Speaker 1 (00:25:14): 

Niche. And yeah, thankfully for all the eyebrow threaders out there - Yes. That making their lives easier. 

Speaker 2 (00:25:19): 

If you wanna be a shampooer, we've deregulated that in Missouri. And so, 

Speaker 1 (00:25:24): 

You know - What does deregulated mean exactly in this situation? 

Speaker 2 (00:25:26): 

That just means you don't have to have a license to be able to shampoo hair. And that really was a case of,  you know, you think about young people that may wanna just work in a salon just to see, do I wanna do 

Speaker 1 (00:25:38): 

This 

Speaker 2 (00:25:38): 

Forever? 

Speaker 1 (00:25:39): 

Get introduced to the industry. Could they 

Speaker 2 (00:25:40): 

Do some shampooing, you know, as just kind of - 

Speaker 1 (00:25:44): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:25:45): 

See what it's like? 

Speaker 1 (00:25:45): 

So they used to have to get a certification - A license. Or license and now they do not have to. 

Speaker 2 (00:25:50): 

Right. Just have some supervision. 

Speaker 1 (00:25:51):

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Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:25:52): 

Um, so it could be a young person more in an apprenticeship - Yeah. Be able to test drive it. And so we're  excited we've made some progress there. Yeah. And you heard me talk about the hair braiding. Yep. Um,  you know, to be a hair braider in Missouri was required to have a license, but nothing in the going to  school, cosmetology school teaches you how to be a hair braider. Does that make sense? 

Speaker 1 (00:26:11): 

Yeah, that's a disconnect. 

Speaker 2 (00:26:13): 

Disconnect. 

Speaker 1 (00:26:13): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:26:14): 

So those are the things we're chipping away at it. Interesting. One profession at a time. We're currently,  I'm super excited. We're doing this national research study right now. The Ewing Marion Kauffman  Foundation funded us to do it. But we are looking, you know, nationally at the impact of women in  holding a license. And then more specifically here in, in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. 

Speaker 1 (00:26:35): 

Okay. Yeah. So you're doing the four states. 

Speaker 2 (00:26:37): 

Yes. 

Speaker 1 (00:26:37): 

And then will you expand from there? Are we like heavily focused right now on the four to 

Speaker 2 (00:26:41): 

Make some - Heavily focused. Yeah. Yeah. To get some impact. But it's been great because you learn  from different states what, what could work well in Kansas and bring a best practice to Kansas. Yeah. So  we're super excited about that. But lots of work. And it's just reduces barriers to get that systemic change.  So, you know, it's a perfect example of the economic impact. 

Speaker 1 (00:27:01): 

Yeah. So why were those regulations, maybe that doesn't really matter, but like those regulations for  eyebrow, hair, anything, what were they, why did they even come into play in the first place? 

Speaker 2 (00:27:12): 

Yeah. Every state, it's, you know, it's not nationally, um, that has control over that. It's every state has -  uh-huh. Oversight and control and governing all of that. And it's really comes down to public health and 

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safety challenges. Mm. Okay. So if there's anything related to interfacing with the public, government is  in providing some oversight. 

Speaker 1 (00:27:33): 

So that's not necessarily a, like, just targeted at women. No. That's really more about safety. 

Speaker 2 (00:27:38): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:27:38): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:27:38): 

It's everybody. 

Speaker 1 (00:27:39): 

Yeah. But 

Speaker 2 (00:27:40): 

It just happens - 

Speaker 1 (00:27:41): 

Quality control. Women 

Speaker 2 (00:27:42): 

Primarily - 

Speaker 1 (00:27:42): 

Happen to have three times. Yeah. As many of those situations. Exactly. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:27:46): 

Exactly. 

Speaker 1 (00:27:46): 

Do you guys have any data, um, around how many women are wanting to be in the workforce and feel  they cannot? Like back to that economic impact. So I, you had another quote, um, that I though was really  interesting. Can you imagine if we built systems that worked as hard for women as women work? And I,  you know, as someone who works very hard, I'm a very, um, driven, like I rely on productivity and  making an impact. That's kind of my thing. I was just like, you know, why is, does that pertain. I know we  talked about the caregiving. Um, but I was like, are women underestimated for their work ethic? Is that  part of what you hear from when you go in and talk to leaders of organizations? Or like, what are we  doing, you know, to maybe address that specific kind of sentiment? 

(00:28:30): 

I

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Speaker 2 (00:28:31): 

Think where we are missing the point, and it's starting to become more of, you know, conversation piece  in the mainstream. It's just this invisible work that women do. 

Speaker 1 (00:28:40): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:28:41): 

You know, it's the unpaid work at home. Mm-hmm. It's, you know, it's caring for the aging family  members. It's picking the kids up from school, but still maintaining the job and the impact and getting the  results that you want. Yeah. And, you know, it's starting, we're starting to see more conversation around  that work. Mm-hmm. Um, and you think about, you know, women who are staying home, there's, they're  working. They're still working. And it's that unpaid work 

Speaker 1 (00:29:08): 

That - It's like manual labor working. <laugh> Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:29:11): 

Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:29:11): 

Yeah. Right. 

Speaker 2 (00:29:12): 

Exactly. So, you know, can you imagine if we had systems that worked as hard for women as women  work - Right. Is the key point. Yeah. But it's all of that, you know, invisible work that's happening. Mm hmm. Whether it be, you know, financial pressure, emotional stress, it's physical work at home, whatever  it may be, and still maintaining a job. It doesn't stop at the end of 

Speaker 1 (00:29:32): 

The day. So is that like some utopian dream to have someone who is a mom at home doing all the manual  labor, not getting paid for the invisible work, to find a way to pay her for that work? Is that ever a reality?  Is there anyone around the world that does that? 

Speaker 2 (00:29:44): 

There is 

Speaker 1 (00:29:44): 

Always 

Speaker 2 (00:29:45): 

That conversation piece. What's interesting, um, in the state of Oklahoma, they just updated a caregiving  tax credit - Okay. Which is kind of interesting. And what that means is that you would get a tax, you get a  credit on your income tax return at the. State level, um, for caring 

Speaker 1 (00:30:01):

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For a - So there's some benefits at least in 

Speaker 2 (00:30:04): 

Oklahoma. 

Speaker 1 (00:30:04): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (00:30:04): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:30:05): 

Isn't 

Speaker 2 (00:30:05): 

That, isn't that amazing? Yeah. Um - 

Speaker 1 (00:30:07): 

When you say it, it's almost like, wait, why isn't everybody else doing that? Right. Shouldn't that be  simple? But obviously the numbers, you know, probably have to back into that. So. 

Speaker 2 (00:30:16): 

But there's starting to be some conversation around that. Yeah. And there is the paid family and medical  leave. Um, you know, federal workers benefit from 12 weeks. Um, and, you know, some states are  starting to do more of that. We'd like to see that as a practice in the corporate setting. We've heard from so  many women, um, that have worked for big companies that don't have, you know, a, a policy like that in  place. Mm-hmm. But it really makes a difference on their ability to work, the retention, the recruitment.  Yeah. And it's starting, you know, we're starting, you know, kind of to sum this up, there is conversation. 

Speaker 1 (00:30:54): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:30:54): 

And that's progress. 

Speaker 1 (00:30:56): 

Absolutely. 

Speaker 2 (00:30:56): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:30:57): 

Yeah. And I can only imagine the collective conversation that will, like you said, the word compounding  that will come together. And, and are you, and you'll probably, do you hear from other, people from other  states? Like, I mean, you said you went to DC, you know? Yes. You went to the Women's Foundation or 

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whatever it was called there. Like, do you start to see this kind of happening already in ma - like coast to  coast? And where there'll be opportunities for you guys to kind of bring a meeting of the minds together  and figure out how collectively what you guys have gathered? 

Speaker 2 (00:31:24): 

Yes. 

Speaker 1 (00:31:25): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:31:25): 

Yes. For sure. For sure. 

Speaker 1 (00:31:27): 

That's exciting. 

Speaker 2 (00:31:28): 

Yes. There's always, um, that's the best, you know, one of the best places to be able to influence decision  makers, policy makers. They wanna know what other states are doing. 

Speaker 1 (00:31:38): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:31:39): 

And bringing those best practices to the state. So I think there's room. It's just, you know, timing and  when. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:31:45): 

Um, 

Speaker 2 (00:31:46): 

But, but I'm just thrilled that we're having different conversations. 

Speaker 1 (00:31:51): 

Absolutely. How much has that changed even in, like, the last few years for you? Really? I feel like it's  probably picked up a lot. Significant. 

Speaker 2 (00:31:57): 

Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, as, um, we're, we're moving into the midterm elections. Mm-hmm. You  know, you're gonna start to hear more and more of this as part of platforms. 

Speaker 1 (00:32:07): 

Yeah. Um, 

Speaker 2 (00:32:08):

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And I would be surprised if childcare caregiving isn't, you know, in the top three. 

Speaker 1 (00:32:13): 

A hot topic. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Um, one thing that I understand about you is you'll often ask the question,  what doesn't make sense? 

Speaker 2 (00:32:21): 

Yes. 

Speaker 1 (00:32:21): 

Why is that such an important question? How does that come into play with your day-to-day work, with  your team or what you're doing? Like ta - walk us through that. 

Speaker 2 (00:32:30): 

I love that because I feel like if we all ask that question, then we would identify opportunity that leads to  innovation and creativity. Mm-hmm. And so, you know, just thinking through what doesn't make sense,  and I'll use an example. Um, working. I hosted a panel discussion for the national, um, for the Kansas  League of Municipalities, part of the National League of Cities. And, um, it was on childcare. Mm-hmm.  The state fire marshal in the state of Kansas was there and was listening to the panel discussion on  childcare and came up at the end of the panel. We started talking and I was sharing with him, we're, you  know, trying to do some great work in Missouri. And he's like, "You know, I've got some research I'd  love to share with you just about around fire codes." Mm. So thinking about what doesn't make sense,  Missouri, it was the only state in an eight state part of the middle of the country that hasn't updated the  state fire codes to be able to streamline opening up childcare facilities. 

(00:33:33): 

And - 

Speaker 1 (00:33:33): 

Wow. 

Speaker 2 (00:33:34): 

So we took this research, which doesn't make sense. The state of Missouri's, um, fire codes hadn't been  updated since, like, the late 1990s. So - 

Speaker 1 (00:33:45): 

How is that, like, not 

Speaker 2 (00:33:46): 

Legally? <laugh> Requires some statute and some work and some, some legislation. So we took what  Kansas did and with some research, shared it with the state fire marshal, shared it with the governor, and  said, "You know what? I think this could really help around the childcare challenge of opening up  quickly." 

Speaker 1 (00:34:04): 

Yeah. So

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Speaker 2 (00:34:05): 

We did send a bill to the governor's desk. He is yet to sign it, will sign it. Okay. 

Speaker 1 (00:34:09): 

Um, 

Speaker 2 (00:34:10): 

But, you know - And 

Speaker 1 (00:34:11): 

That guy just happened to 

Speaker 2 (00:34:12): 

Be there. He happened to be there. We struck up a conversation. 

Speaker 1 (00:34:14): 

I mean - 

Speaker 2 (00:34:15): 

And then you're starting to just ask the question of what doesn't make sense to be able to, you know, help  get supply meeting demand. It's a small thing. 

Speaker 1 (00:34:23): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (00:34:24): 

But if we all started asking these questions, like, on a, you know, kind of a granular level, it's the small  change that can impact big time, big opportunity. 

Speaker 1 (00:34:32): 

It's so simple, yet so obvious. 

Speaker 2 (00:34:34): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:34:35): 

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I wanna talk about the event. Let's talk 

Speaker 2 (00:34:39): 

About the event. 

Speaker 1 (00:34:40): 

Let's talk about the event. Event. Excuse me. Okay. So I mentioned it before, but the United We 35th  Anniversary Champions for Change event at the Casey Current Stadium, CPC Stadium. It was during 

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Women's History Month, obviously. Great. Um, you awarded Brittany Holmes with the inaugural  recipient of the Champion for Change Award. Yes. Which I'll get to that in a second. But how did the  event come together? Talk to me about how the team decided to do it, what you guys did. You can watch  it online. Right. It's terrible. Uh, for people who haven't seen the event, you can watch it. Um, I went back  and was watching it in my research, even though I was there. But there's preliminary stuff that I didn't see  as well of you guys doing some, like, uh, video stuff before, including Brittany. So, yeah. How did it all  come together? 

Speaker 2 (00:35:22): 

Well, it was 35, you know, 35 years of celebration. We're trying to think where would be, you know, such  an interesting place to host this. Yeah. And immediately, CPKC Stadium came to mind, you know, as this  remarkable first stadium in the world built for a women's professional sports team. Can't 

Speaker 1 (00:35:40): 

Say that enough. 

Speaker 2 (00:35:41): 

Can't say that enough. <laugh> So we were excited to host it there. Yep. Um, and also with the World  Cup coming - Yeah. Um, you know, to Kansas City as, um, you know, a host city. We just though it was  just the right - Perfect. The right location. Mm-hmm. So that really helped us identify the location. And  then we started to think about, you know, just how we wanted to celebrate this momentum - uh-huh. The  progress, the history of the organization. And that's when we built out the, the panel discussion - Yeah.  That included, um, Maneet Ahuja, the editor at large of Forbes Magazine. Incredible. Um, Rob Cohen,  that's, you know, has the Denver Summit now, you know, just - 

Speaker 1 (00:36:24): 

And they've kind of followed a little bit in the footsteps of the current, right? Absolutely. For women's  team. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:36:28): 

And, and - 

Speaker 1 (00:36:29): 

Which is great. 

Speaker 2 (00:36:29): 

From Kansas City area. 

Speaker 1 (00:36:31): 

Yeah. Um, 

Speaker 2 (00:36:31): 

Which was w- wonderful to welcome him. Mind 

Speaker 1 (00:36:34): 

You, he would not put the Casey Current scarf on. He would not

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Speaker 2 (00:36:36): 

Put the Casey 

Speaker 1 (00:36:37): 

Current. He was very adamant about that, that his team would get very mad at him if he put that on.  <laugh> 

Speaker 2 (00:36:41): 

And then Shelly Zallas with the Female Quotient. 

Speaker 1 (00:36:43): 

Incredible. Which 

Speaker 2 (00:36:44): 

Was, you know, just kind of an interesting dynamic - Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:36:48): 

Um, 

Speaker 2 (00:36:48): 

With that, you know, conversation piece. Um - Had 

Speaker 1 (00:36:52): 

They interfaced with you guys at all with United We or any previous events or anything? They 

Speaker 2 (00:36:57): 

Had not. Oh. 

Speaker 1 (00:36:58): 

Um, 

Speaker 2 (00:36:59): 

We had, you know, just kind of identified them, had some, you know, individual conversations - Yeah.  And 

Speaker 1 (00:37:03): 

Then 

Speaker 2 (00:37:04): 

Just invited them to be a part of a panel and they all said yes. I 

Speaker 1 (00:37:07): 

Mean, those are some big wigs. Yeah. We were

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Speaker 2 (00:37:09): 

So excited - Yeah. To welcome them to Kansas City and just to s - you know, to share, share them with  everyone. Mm-hmm. Um, and then, you know, recognizing Brittany for her, um, contributions, and then  ended with Kimmy Chucks - Yeah. Um, from the NFL Network who's - 

Speaker 1 (00:37:27): 

She's fun to listen to. Fun 

Speaker 2 (00:37:28): 

To listen to. Mm-hmm. She's on our board, um, to welcome her back to Kansas City. And then having the  current and Bank of America recognized too. It was great. Yeah. It was just a, a wonderful way to start  the day. It was a breakfast. It was early in the morning. Mm-hmm. We couldn't have asked for better  weather. The day before was - 

Speaker 1 (00:37:46): 

I know. Scary. 

(00:37:47): 

I was gonna say the day before was not so great, but then, and then it was really funny. I'm like, "Oh my  gosh, it's April and it's kind of cold," but it ended up being the perfect temperature. Perfect. 'Cause you  had the morning sun kind of coming in. It was so picturesque, of course. So, um, well, for people who  haven't watched it or didn't go, what were some of the main messages that the panel brought and that your  speech brought? Um, and then of course I'll link for people where they can go watch it on YouTube. 

Speaker 2 (00:38:12): 

Yeah, please. And we invite everyone to, you know, have the experience of watching it. We really wanted  this to be, you know, about celebration - uh-huh. And progress of women. And so the panel discussion, I  th- they, you know, f - had some sports focus - Sure. About economic impact of sports with Rob. Um,  some real discussion. Shelly is, you know, just has come from the corporate sector, a, a very successful in  her career, really brought the lens of, you know, the conversations that we should be having that we aren't  having and how to be supportive and why are we still having these conversations. 

Speaker 1 (00:38:49): 

She has a, um, kind of a forthcoming approach, the way that she speaks, which I love. I'm trying to  remember one of the things that she said where she was, it was kind of like a, what? Why are we saying  that about women? I'd have to go back and watch it, but I just kind of, she was kind of captivating to hear  her, um, confidence and boldness in the way that she spoke about it. And 

Speaker 2 (00:39:06): 

We've heard so many people resonate, you 

Speaker 1 (00:39:09): 

Know, 

Speaker 2 (00:39:09): 

Just with how frank and candid she was. So you make a great,

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Speaker 1 (00:39:12): 

You make a great point. Frank and candid, exactly. Yes, that's right. 

Speaker 2 (00:39:14): 

You make a, you make a great point. Yeah. So, you know, celebrating progress, but also, you know, still  have a lot of progress to make, um, from the panel discussion. And then I really talked about, you know,  the progress that we have made, much of what we've talked about today, but leaned in a bit on civility.  Okay. And, um, you know, just in the course of doing this work and the environment that we're in, we  really see opportunity to create a different, different culture, a different environment in order to get the  results that we need. So it was really talking about - uh-huh. Um, you know, civility isn't politeness. It is,  you know, we need to focus on staying at the table - uh-huh. To really respect one another, perspectives,  opinions, and let's get a result. 

Speaker 1 (00:40:04): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:40:05): 

And we need that now more than ever. Yeah. So we leaned in, we leaned into that point. 

Speaker 1 (00:40:10): 

Yeah. I also like that you said the, um, the future doesn't belong to those who wait. Right. It belongs to  those who build. 

Speaker 2 (00:40:18): 

Exactly. 

Speaker 1 (00:40:19): 

Which is amazing, um, for people. Again, resonated with me because for the first time in my life, I  stepped away to do something entrepreneurial that I'm building on my own. Um, which is why that was  such an inspiration for me and many other people. Because actually I've read more women are leaving the  corporate world to do their own thing. Maybe men as well, but, um, partially due to economy and  different things. But I've read so many more women are going off and building their own thing. They are.  And I was like, great. They are. Huge advocate. 

Speaker 2 (00:40:47): 

This was a shock to me, Mindy. We did town halls in, around the state of Kansas and also in Missouri.  And this was a question that we asked. Mm-hmm. And so many women are sitting on incredible ideas to  start businesses. 

Speaker 1 (00:41:01): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:41:02): 

And just, you know, they're, they may be caught because they have the health insurance for the family.  Um, but, you know, it also comes down to a lot around confidence. Yeah. You're very confident. You  can, you know, you're gonna, you're gonna be successful. You're gonna - Yeah. And there's some women 

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that are like, "Ah, it's, I don't have it all put together yet." You know, and we see this all the time. Yeah.  Whether you're in a corporate sector, whether you're interested in our appointments project, which is  helping women get appointed to boards and commissions. Yeah. We hear it all the time. Oh, I've looked  at the qualifications. I don't have them all. I'm not ready. No. Yeah. You don't need them all. Mm-hmm.  And men often looked at the 10 qualifications have maybe four or five and they are putting themselves  out there. But I am just, I want more women who want to have their businesses - 

Speaker 1 (00:41:51): 

Uh-huh. 

Speaker 2 (00:41:52): 

Start their businesses. They're on some great ideas. 

Speaker 1 (00:41:54): 

Yeah. I was gonna say, I think one thing that comes to mind is what would you say to people who are  like, "That sounds great for people who have the privilege and the ability to do that." What would be your  advice? What would you guide them to do, to talk to, to get involved with, to research, you know,  resources to them? Like what, what would that look like for somebody, um, you know, with that thought? 

Speaker 2 (00:42:15): 

Yeah. You know what's interesting? Missouri just passed an angel tax credit, angel - Okay. 

Speaker 1 (00:42:21): 

Investor 

Speaker 2 (00:42:21): 

Tax credit. So what that means is now that there can be more investments and capital access to  entrepreneurs in, in Missouri. So if you have the business idea, then that investor could get a tax credit for  that investment in your business. Okay. So I feel like, you know, that's a step forward in creating an  entrepreneurial culture. There are all kinds - Yeah. Of support systems out there. Um, you know, you can  just Google it in your area - Yeah. And find, um, you know, especially for women, there's the Women's  Business Center. They have some great resources. Mm-hmm. There's the National Association of Women  Business Owners. We've have, have had a great partnership and relationship with them. Tons of 

Speaker 1 (00:43:00): 

Resources out there.You'll look, you'll find it. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:43:03): 

You'll look, you'll find it. Um, and have the confidence to, you know, step forward. 

Speaker 1 (00:43:11): 

I think so, yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:43:12): 

Love to see, you know, we're in this ar - this is the innovation and creativity time.

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Speaker 1 (00:43:17): 

Yeah. Yeah. Well, and I mean, confidence, right? Like that is such a huge component, of course. Um, I  feel that myself. Um, I'm also doing it in my mid - 40s. I don't know that I could have gone off on my  own in my mid - 20s given finances or being single or different things. All the variables that come into  play. But regardless of that, um, even in my own situation, naturally, um, you know, starting my, or  running my own business, it's like you'll have those moments of self-doubt. But then you have that little  whisper in your head that's like, keep going, keep going, keep going. Keep 

Speaker 2 (00:43:48): 

Going. Yes. 

Speaker 1 (00:43:49): 

And I think that people need to remember that. I feel like anyway, that's my advice being in this situation.  If anybody is feeling that, you know, you'll hear that whisper if you're passionate enough about it and if  you're driven enough to do it. And your confidence will fluctuate. But you'll get through it, like, by the.  And talking to people like you and other people who have gone through this and are advocating. So yeah.  And 

Speaker 2 (00:44:09): 

Build your network around you - Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:44:11): 

Of 

Speaker 2 (00:44:12): 

Advisor. I mean - Yeah. If nothing more, to be that confidence booster when you need it - Yeah. Just to  listen. Yeah. And just have this core group around you, which I'm sure you do. Yep. Keep going, keep  going. You're doing great. Yep. 

Speaker 1 (00:44:22): 

You're 

Speaker 2 (00:44:23): 

Doing great. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:44:23): 

That's 

Speaker 2 (00:44:24): 

What, that's what women need. 

Speaker 1 (00:44:25): 

It's hugely helpful. Yeah. Okay. So let's talk about Brittany. Um, I wanted to read real quickly what she  said when she accepted it. Um, loved her teal suit that she wore as well. Um, I'm, I'm proud to accept this  honor, but more importantly, I'm proud to stand with an organization that understands that investing in  women isn't just a good thing to do. It's the smartest play on the board. We are here to build real equity 

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and create spaces where women don't just have a seat at the table, but own the building the table sits in.  Yes. 

Speaker 2 (00:44:54): 

That's 

Speaker 1 (00:44:55): 

Like a huh, mic drop sitch, right? Um, Brittany's in her own league, right? Yes. But she, I, you know, I  had Danny Walniack from the Casey Current on, um, and we were talking about Brittany and I was like,  "I don't think a lot of people really know her background, like, playing soccer." She played soccer  internationally. And, um, you know, I just wanna hear more about, like, you awarding this to her and  conversations that you've had with her, probably even behind closed doors, and just the passion that she  had for m- making this literal, um, world changing edition of the first stadium dedicated to women's  sports. So. And 

Speaker 2 (00:45:31): 

We really thought, you know, this moment in time of, you know, having the event at the location - Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:45:37): 

Just 

Speaker 2 (00:45:37): 

Made sense. But, but she's also, um, you know, we look up to her, you know, we look up and look out and  see her. We don't really know her - Right. You know, as a, as, you know, get to know someone. Mm hmm. Um, I thought she did an incredibly great job, you know, speaking and accepting the award. And  I've heard so many people say, "Ah, wow, I wasn't expecting that." You know, or, "I loved her teal suit,  and wow, I couldn't believe, you know, what she said." 

Speaker 1 (00:46:07): 

Right. 

Speaker 2 (00:46:07): 

But the progress that she has made and, you know, just from professional athlete to investing in a  professional sports team - uh-huh. Is, is a leader, you know - Yeah. Is a leader. And she's using her  influence - uh-huh. For the good of other women. 

Speaker 1 (00:46:26): 

Yeah, through and through. And we 

Speaker 2 (00:46:27): 

Wanted - That's so impressive. To celebrate and lift her up for that. Mm-hmm. And in addition to that,  she's also serving on the board of the National Women's Soccer League. Mm-hmm. So she has, you  know, a board position too that, you know, um, is a volunteer and, um, but really helping influence the  sports, that sport as well. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:46:49):

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Um, 

Speaker 2 (00:46:50): 

So from athlete to business owner to, you know, and it, it's impressive. 

Speaker 1 (00:46:55): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:46:55): 

And using her influence. And she's a mother. Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:46:59): 

And she, she's l - again, going back to, like, international influence, right? Exactly. Like you've got other  countries reaching out to Kansas City - 

Speaker 2 (00:47:05): 

Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:47:06): 

To ask how this was done, you know? Exactly. 

Speaker 2 (00:47:08): 

Exactly. About 

Speaker 1 (00:47:09): 

As far as you can get, so far wide. We just 

Speaker 2 (00:47:11): 

Wanted to celebrate all of that and then including her being a mother. 

Speaker 1 (00:47:14): 

Yeah. Um, okay. So I read, or yeah, researching, you're nonpartisan. Is that-That's important. That's very  important to your organization. Yes. So when we live in the world that we live in - Yeah. Which is a little  polarized, um, how do you remain non-partisan in your work? What do people need to know about that  where they feel like, well, do they go this way or that way, you know, in any regard? 

Speaker 2 (00:47:39): 

The nonpartisan is so important, and I feel that that is, um, you know, contributes to some of the  momentum that we've had - uh-huh. 

Speaker 1 (00:47:48): 

Is 

Speaker 2 (00:47:49):

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Maintaining nonpartisanship. And we are able to do that with our research because the data and facts tell  the story. It's not an emotional story. Yeah. Or, uh, so we, all of our research we invest is primarily, um,  in higher ed univer - in- institutions, universities. Mm-hmm. So it's academics that are helping us put the  

research together or an economist - Okay. Bringing that lens. So it really ha - makes the business case -  Yeah. When you're looking at the data. And that really helps us stay on point in conversation. So we're  just talking about the data. We're talking about the facts. Right. And that really helps - That makes 

Speaker 1 (00:48:26): 

Sense. 

Speaker 2 (00:48:27): 

Helps in the, the nonpartisanship. 

Speaker 1 (00:48:29): 

Do you do, like, a certain number of studies per year? Or can you talk about, like, what might being s -  what's being studied currently? 

Speaker 2 (00:48:35): 

Yeah. It, it, we don't put a number on it. Okay. It really depends on the need. Um, y- you know,  everything that we have been successful from a policy change is backed by - uh-huh. Um, research. Yeah.  So the fire codes. Yeah. Had a re - had a policy brief on that. Um, the big research study that we're doing  right now is on not, on occupational licensing. Mm-hmm. And that'll take two years, two years to put  together. Okay. Yeah. That puts 

Speaker 1 (00:49:00): 

It in perspective. 

Speaker 2 (00:49:01): 

So it'll take, it'll take some time. We just also launched kind of an interesting, um, project for us as an  organization, a rural fellows, fellowship program. So we will have some rural fellows, six fellows per  year for the next three years. So a total of 18 fellows. Okay. And we're really wanting to do a, a year long  research study looking at innovation, economic, um, you know, opportunity in rural communities. Mm.  And we did this nat- nationwide, um, you know, RFP and, and received applications. We're reviewing  them right now. Okay. So stay tuned. It's gonna be super cool. TV. 

Speaker 1 (00:49:38): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:49:39): 

And then we'll do a symposium with the, the six fellows and just kind of share, but we're really looking  at, you know, interesting things in rural communities. Mm-hmm. And the why on that is that, you know,  as we're chipping away at this occupational licensing work, and then you overlay, you know, what  artificial intelligence, how that's gonna impact professions in the future. Mm-hmm. We know there's  gravitation to rural communities where the emphasis will be more on trades. Okay. So stay tuned. Stay 

Speaker 1 (00:50:05):

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Tuned on that one. Yeah. I 

Speaker 2 (00:50:07): 

Think it's gonna be super cool. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:50:08): 

But 

Speaker 2 (00:50:08): 

It varies. We could have two to three in depth research studies going simultaneously. Um, but those are  our two priorities right now. And 

Speaker 1 (00:50:16): 

Let's just say in two years, like, that, that study, um, comes to the results or whatever. How do we hear,  how do we hear about it? Where, how, where do we learn about it? Is it social media? Do we - 

Speaker 2 (00:50:25): 

Social media. Um, we always push out our research studies with an invitation, you know, publicly. Mm hmm. We'll do a virtual press conference. Okay. So it is open to the public. Yeah. We put all of our, most  of our research studies on our website. Mm-hmm. So they're accessible to everyone. Yeah. It's great  bedtime reading for anyone who wants to like. Yeah, there you go. Um, but we wanna, we wanna push it  out far and wide. Yeah. We invest in this for everyone, not just - Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:50:53): 

For 

Speaker 2 (00:50:54): 

Our own benefit. 

Speaker 1 (00:50:55): 

Right. Okay. Um, here's a question for you. What role should or do men play? Oh, 

Speaker 2 (00:51:02): 

Great question. <laugh> They play a significant role. Yeah. And, um, you know, so many of the decision  makers are men. Mm-hmm. Um, but men also have wives and daughters and all, all the work that we're  doing are impacting them. And that's - Yep. That's usually a starting point that we have in conversations.  But men are part of this, and that's why at the event, you saw a lot of men there because - Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:51:30): 

Absolutely. Really what we're 

Speaker 2 (00:51:32): 

Really the issues that we're focused on impact everyone. 

Speaker 1 (00:51:34):

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Yeah. And what, so for like the men who came to the event - Yeah. Are they sort of indirectly tasked with  taking this initiative, maybe going back to their organization - Yes. Bringing, bringing the conversation to  their break room table or conference room table? Exactly. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:51:52): 

It's a great, it's a great learning opportunity. Um, you know, as a nonpartisan organization, I hope that  helps resonate with some of the issues and how we talk about it - uh-huh. For taking away in that  learning. Um, I'll give an example. We hosted, um, the previous governor of Missouri, Governor Parson a  few years ago at a Champions for Change breakfast. Okay. 

Speaker 1 (00:52:14): 

And 

Speaker 2 (00:52:15): 

He was just gonna stay for his part of the program and then leave. Mm-hmm. But he came down from the,  the stage and he sat down and he stayed. Okay. And he leaned over to me and he goes, "I think I'm gonna  stay a little bit longer." He stayed till the, till the end. Mm-hmm. He goes, "I learned a lot." And you  know what he did? As a result of him being in that room, he appointed a majority of women on the  Missouri Supreme Court. 

Speaker 1 (00:52:41): 

Wow. That's incredible. That's a great story. So you 

Speaker 2 (00:52:44): 

Never know - Right. 

Speaker 1 (00:52:45): 

How 

Speaker 2 (00:52:46): 

You're gonna be influenced by what you hear - Yeah. And the decision making. So that's an example of a  takeaway. 

Speaker 1 (00:52:53): 

So by the way, I went back and I found, I had this quote. I knew this is something that I had pulled.  According to a recent Forbes feature, women started nearly one in two new businesses in America last  year, the highest ever recorded. So that's where I, it was. That was a, you, I think you guys probably had  that somewhere too, but I'm like, they started every one in two new businesses in America. Isn't that  amazing? So that's great. Great testament to it. So, um, how, when it comes to. I, I kind of wanted to go  back to, like, are there other things that we should be aware of, like stigmas? Let's say somebody's  working in their corporate work environment or maybe they're starting a business. Are there other things  that we should kind of, um, be aware of with women that might be a stigma that we need to start kind of  like taking away from the conversation? 

(00:53:37): 

Is there anything else that we haven't talked about per se? Yeah.

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Speaker 2 (00:53:39): 

I think the stigma of that, you know, when children are sick at school, it's the mom that always gets  called. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (00:53:47): 

Mm-hmm. That's so true. And it, 

Speaker 2 (00:53:50): 

And 

Speaker 1 (00:53:51): 

That's just the, it's just ingrained in whoever to call. It is. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:53:55): 

It is ingrained. And, you know, but what about the father if they're, you know, part of the household?  Right. You know? 

Speaker 1 (00:54:04): 

Why are we still assuming that? Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Um, okay. So back to the economic thing. Tell me  if this is right. It could take another 150 years to reach - Yeah. Gender equity in the US. 

Speaker 2 (00:54:16): 

Yes. Let's 

Speaker 1 (00:54:16): 

Talk about that. Yes. 

Speaker 2 (00:54:18): 

I mean, 

Speaker 1 (00:54:18): 

Is that a study that you guys had done? Is that a - No, that's a 

Speaker 2 (00:54:21): 

Separate 

Speaker 1 (00:54:21): 

Study? 

Speaker 2 (00:54:22): 

That's a national study, but it is a fact. There's so many, you know, contributors of why it's gonna take 150  years. Um, you know - That's 

Speaker 1 (00:54:32):

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Bonkers to think about, right? It's 

Speaker 2 (00:54:33): 

Bonkers. That 

Speaker 1 (00:54:34): 

None of us would be around. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (00:54:35): 

Right. Or your girls. Or, 

Speaker 1 (00:54:37): 

Yep. Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (00:54:38): 

Um, to think about, you know - Couple 

Speaker 1 (00:54:40): 

Generations away. A couple 

Speaker 2 (00:54:41): 

Of generations away. But there's a number of contributors into why - Okay. That 

Speaker 1 (00:54:46): 

Is. 

Speaker 2 (00:54:46): 

We've talked about a big one being the caregiving - uh-huh. Is significant. There is also the inequity in  pay in some examples. So pay equity. Now, we're getting so much better. Are we, are 

Speaker 1 (00:54:58): 

We still at like 81 

Speaker 2 (00:54:58): 

Cents? 

Speaker 1 (00:54:59): 

82, 81? 

Speaker 2 (00:55:00): 

Yeah. 81, 82 cents. Okay. Um, you know, and that's average. That's, you know, the, the divide is wide,  you know, for, um, Hispanic and Black women. And, you know, it just is, is significant. So there is that.  Can 

Speaker 1 (00:55:18):

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I ask real quickly, is it as complicated as maybe it might seem to close that gap? Or is it maybe more  simple than we think to get women to be closer to the same? It's 

Speaker 2 (00:55:32): 

Complicated. Um, you know, it's subjective. I think one level playing field, some, uh, early in our tenure  of doing this policy work, we leaned into just stop asking on employment applications, what you  previously made in your previous position. Mm-hmm. And that really helped kind of close the gap -  Yeah. And just focus on the actual job description and how it's posted of this is the ra - salary range. Yep.  Um, and we have come so far as a country of, of not including that anymore in con - Okay. In  conversation. Um, so there is, we've made some progress, but it is not one thing - uh-huh. That's gonna  take 150 years to close. Right. But it's a number of things. 

Speaker 1 (00:56:16): 

Yeah. That 

Speaker 2 (00:56:17): 

We've talked about today. 

Speaker 1 (00:56:18): 

But what kind of impact would, back to the economics or, you know, yeah, economically for our country,  if everybody's worried about that, if it has any, you know, stake of the game, like, what, what impact is  another 150 years potentially - Yeah. Going to make or not make, right? Like, what, what's the difference  between if that happened in, you know, now or 50 years versus 150? You know what I mean? 

Speaker 2 (00:56:40): 

I think it, the, I think the most significant will be the economy. Yeah. The economic impact that you'll  see, you know, just because we haven't been able to make significant progress or there's times where we  feel like we're two steps forward and four steps backwards - Yeah. And we make some significant  progress. Mm-hmm. You know, a big place where we are trying to lean into around the civility is, you  know, representation needs to look different. Mm-hmm. And representation needs to look like the  communities it serves. Mm-hmm. Um, or the states that it serves. And, um, there's a lot of work that  needs to be done. And w- we have conversations all the time with women. You know, there's a lot of  people, just like on the entrepreneurship side, thinking about I wanna start a business. There's a lot of  people that think, I would love to run for office, but no way, not in this environment - Yeah. 

(00:57:28): 

Would I have any interest in doing that. I'm not comfortable as a really 

Speaker 1 (00:57:31): 

Good point. 

Speaker 2 (00:57:33): 

I'm not comfortable as a woman subjecting my family or my children to what could, you know, be  personal attacks on me or them. Yeah. They just don't wanna do it. Mm-hmm. And that's the culture that  we need to change. If we're gonna change from 150 years, we need to change who is representing us to be  able to close and, and close that gap. 

Speaker 1 (00:57:53):

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Yeah. What would be. Okay, so I'm a mother to two girls. Um, I'm my own kind of person, but my  husband is a dad to two girls. Um, regardless of that, people who, but especially people who have  daughters. Um, do you have any advice for people on like things that we should be instilling in girls from  a young age about their, um, their abilities or their opportunities or - Yeah. Um, are things being  misconstrued on social media even to girls about what they're capable of or what's available to them? 

Speaker 2 (00:58:30): 

Young women need to see who they can be. Yeah. You know, that's im - that to me is really important.  Um, I'll give an example. One of the opportunities that we had is we renamed two state parks in Missouri.  And we renamed them to include women. Okay. 

Speaker 1 (00:58:51): 

And, 

Speaker 2 (00:58:51): 

Um - Because 

Speaker 1 (00:58:52): 

The majority are named after a male? There 

Speaker 2 (00:58:55): 

Wasn't a one named after a woman - Okay. In 

Speaker 1 (00:58:57): 

State 

Speaker 2 (00:58:58): 

Park. But we did some historical research and there is the, um, Nathaniel Boone State Park down in  Ashgrove, Missouri. Mm-hmm. It's near Springfield. And, um, his wife, um, Abel and Nathaniel Doom,  Na- Nathaniel Boone, Nathaniel would be off, you know, going on hunts and doing all these things. And  she was home taking care of this 150 acre farm with 11 children by herself. The invisible 

Speaker 1 (00:59:27): 

Work? Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (00:59:28): 

That's 

Speaker 1 (00:59:28): 

A lot of invisible work. <laugh> And 

Speaker 2 (00:59:30): 

We went and re - we renamed it. Yeah. Um, 

Speaker 1 (00:59:33):

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To 

Speaker 2 (00:59:33): 

Include her name. Oh, 

Speaker 1 (00:59:34): 

Good. And, 

Speaker 2 (00:59:35): 

You know, she was left out of history. But it was really for young girls to be able to go to that state park  and be able to say, "Okay." Yep. "She 

Speaker 1 (00:59:43): 

Was, 

Speaker 2 (00:59:43): 

She was a trailblazer." 

Speaker 1 (00:59:44): 

They would not have known otherwise. Would 

Speaker 2 (00:59:46): 

Not have known a trailblazer. So - Yep. 

Speaker 1 (00:59:48): 

See 

Speaker 2 (00:59:48): 

Who they can be. The other concern for young women is social media and this, this, um, strive for  perfection. Mm-hmm. Which is, you know, alarming for young women. Women because, you know, it's  not a perfect world out there and there's no such thing as perfect, perfect perfection. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (01:00:07): 

It's kind of sickening, to be honest. Yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:00:10): 

And we're not all gonna be perfect in everything that we do. Mm-hmm. There's value in failing. Yep. 

Speaker 1 (01:00:16): 

Sometimes. Oh, 100%. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:00:18): 

That's where we do some of our best learning. Mm-hmm. So I think if there's, you know, if I could wave a  magic wand, it would be, you know, there is so much pressure and stress on these young women. And it  really gets back to this confidence level.

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Speaker 1 (01:00:31): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:00:32): 

I mean, we need to build young women to be confident - Yep. If we're gonna need them to be  representing us to be able to make decisions that impact us. 

Speaker 1 (01:00:41): 

Yeah. And especially if they want a seat at the table. Right. If they wanna get into leadership, um, things  like that. I would imagine. Do you, do you get commentary from younger people when you do some of  these, um. Do you do the salon? Is that a thing that we should talk about? The salon- Salon gatherings.  Gatherings that we do. Yeah. Are you still doing those? Yes. Is that in the different states? So let's talk  about that. And is that kind of. Are those questions that you get where they're like, "I don't know that I'm  a viable option to get into leadership or to interview." Always. Always. It's, it's still a, a common though.  It's 

Speaker 2 (01:01:10): 

Like all the questions, Mindy, are always around, you know, it's just the confidence. I'm like, "What do  you mean?" Yeah. "You're ready. Let's, you know, you're ready to step forward and put yourself out  there." Yeah. Um, for young women, I think, um, you know, as I have spent time on college campuses,  I'll always ask them when it comes to graduating from college and then you're negotiating on your first  job, who do you go to? Do you go to your dad or do you go to your mom? Yeah. And it's, it's, you know,  95% of the young women go to their dads - uh-huh. On negotiating on that first job. And I always ask  them why. Well, my mom, my mom doesn't do the, doesn't negotiate. She, she didn't negotiate in her job.  You know, I, I know I'm gonna get good coaching from my dad. We need to change that. 

Speaker 1 (01:01:58): 

That would kill me if my girls said that, by the way, and they probably would never because they know  who I am. But we need to change that. Absolutely. We need to change that. 

Speaker 2 (01:02:05): 

The, and again, it 

Speaker 1 (01:02:05): 

Goes to - And so many women, even my own, in my own little circuit are well equipped - Right. Well 

Speaker 2 (01:02:10): 

Equipped. 

Speaker 1 (01:02:10): 

To be the one to ask about that. Yeah. Right. 

Speaker 2 (01:02:13): 

Or, or the moms are sitting there thinking, going to work every day thinking I should ask for more, you  know, not doing it. But again, it goes to young women being able to see who they can be. Mm-hmm. And  it starts with, it starts there. They need to see their moms that are negotiating that.

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Speaker 1 (01:02:29): 

I know. It just makes me think how many different places are they getting the wrong impression that they  shouldn't feel confident? I mean, we know social media, but yeah, families, is it your friends? Should the  girls be rallying each other every month to talk about, you know, what they're wanting and to go for it and  just ask for it? You know, that kind of thing. So. 

Speaker 2 (01:02:48): 

I agree. 

Speaker 1 (01:02:48): 

Yeah. I think I had read, you know, we all can look back, right? Like we get to the point where you start  to look back at life and you're like, "Oh, now I can connect the dots as to why that happened and how it  got me here or whatever." Um, we're talking about using your voice like for you being in this really cool  

position to be making such an impact and be so influential for so many young girls and women and of  every age to, you know, step up and get into the workforce or go after what you want. Like when you  look back, how do you look at how far you've come even in this narrative? 

Speaker 2 (01:03:23): 

Yes. You know, one thing I always say is I, I wish I would've used my voice sooner. 

Speaker 1 (01:03:28): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:03:29): 

And, um, if I would go back to my 20-year-old self or my 20s, I would've spoken up. You know, we all  sit on, "Okay, I'm not gonna raise my hand," or, you know, "I, in school," or, "Yeah, I think that would be  great for the workplace, but it's not the right time or it's not gonna be perceived." You know, we all do  that. Everybody. It's that imposter syndrome - uh-huh. That's like we're constantly dealing with. But I  encourage people to speak up, but I also encourage people to be appropriate. Sure. You know, because it  can be, um, it can be loud and misinterpreted. Mm. Or it could be, you know, use facts and data and it  comes across more, um, in- influential. 

Speaker 1 (01:04:13): 

Yes. 

Speaker 2 (01:04:13): 

And I think that's what I've learned in 

Speaker 1 (01:04:15): 

Those - Can't forget that point. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, do you think part of that though might've just  been like a sign of the times? Or do you think it was more a confidence? A 

Speaker 2 (01:04:22): 

Sign of the times, for 

Speaker 1 (01:04:23):

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Sure. Yeah. I 

Speaker 2 (01:04:24): 

Think maybe a little bit of both. 

Speaker 1 (01:04:25): 

Sure. 

Speaker 2 (01:04:26): 

But definitely the sign of the times.m. I 

Speaker 1 (01:04:28): 

Mean, 

Speaker 2 (01:04:29): 

How far we've come looking back from when I was in my 20s to now. 

Speaker 1 (01:04:33): 

Right. I mean, 

Speaker 2 (01:04:34): 

Significant progress. Having 

Speaker 1 (01:04:35): 

Conversations. I still think it's really crazy, like, when you. I don't think I even realized this probably  until, like, in the last 10 years, but how women couldn't get a credit card until 1973 or whatever year it  was that I was like, "Wait, what?" <laugh> 

Speaker 2 (01:04:48): 

Or a bank account. 

Speaker 1 (01:04:49): 

Like, that's not that long ago, you know? If you think about it. So I'm like, "Oh my gosh, in the last 50  years, there have been huge strides, you know?" And I mean, so thank goodness, but still so far to go. 

Speaker 2 (01:04:59): 

Oh my gosh. 

Speaker 1 (01:05:00): 

Because of that systemic, you know, what you hear. So. 

Speaker 2 (01:05:03): 

With our partnership with the National Association of Women Business Owners, they share. It is  astounding the number of financial institutions that are still requiring women business owners to have  their husbands come in and co-sign on a loan. Are you kidding? No. Wow.

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Speaker 1 (01:05:20): 

So how do you want to do that? 

Speaker 2 (01:05:21): 

2026. 

Speaker 1 (01:05:22): 

What needs to happen for that to stop being a thing? 

Speaker 2 (01:05:25): 

I really feel like the whole banking, um, association, we need to, we need to start having conversations  with them to better address. Yeah. And again, it's - Sounds like it's its own category. You think about, you  know, that, that is a conversation we had in every one of our town halls, just with women as they were  thinking about entrepreneurship. You know, just asking, "Do you know somebody in, where you bank?  Do you, do you have a relationship?" Yeah. "Or you know anybody there?" No. Mm-hmm. Majority. I  mean, that's where men are really good - Yeah. At having those relationships to be able to get what they  need. Yeah. Um, and we just, you know, again, when you walk into a bank, do you see a lot of women?  Do you see who you can be? Mm-hmm. We need to change. Maybe not. Yeah. I think there's, I think  there's a role that we can - 

Speaker 1 (01:06:16): 

A lot of room there too. 

Speaker 2 (01:06:17): 

A lot of room. 

Speaker 1 (01:06:18): 

Yeah. Okay. So going back to the salon gatherings. 

Speaker 2 (01:06:21): 

Yes. 

Speaker 1 (01:06:21): 

Can you talk about that? Yes. Um, especially here in Kansas City - Yes. Majority of people. So 

Speaker 2 (01:06:25): 

We've hosted salon gatherings and it's a smaller scale event. So a smaller, more intimate gathering. We,  um, convene and have a thought leader. Mm-hmm. Um, we've recently had Dr. Misty Haganess talking  about Swiftynomics. 

Speaker 1 (01:06:42): 

Okay. So this happened earlier this year when I was, um, preparing. I saw that and I was like, "Oh man, I  wish I would've known about that." Yes. That would've been interesting to go to. 

Speaker 2 (01:06:50):

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She has a book called Swiftynomics. 

Speaker 1 (01:06:52): 

Okay. So 

Speaker 2 (01:06:52): 

She's an economist, but really used Taylor Swift as to really, you know, underscore some economic  themes. But really talked about the, um, economic impact of reinvention. Oh, interesting. Taylor Swift  has done an amazing job. Yeah. And turned that into an economic engine of reinventing, um, herself. So  we'll have a though leader - uh-huh. Really connecting back to some of the issues that United West  focused on. But then also something culturally that could be interesting. So in Wichita, we did a salon  gathering and then we invited everybody to, had a though leadership conversation. And then we went to  the art museum and it was an all women's artist, um, exhibit. Perfect. And we had a curated tour. Very  well. It's an opportunity to underscore, kind of educate, but underscore and create a unique experience. 

Speaker 1 (01:07:43): 

Is that a once a year event? Does it happen more than that? Is that a, you'll find out on social media or  sign up? You'll find 

Speaker 2 (01:07:49): 

Out on 

Speaker 1 (01:07:49): 

Social media. 

Speaker 2 (01:07:50): 

Okay. Um, and we, we have plans for the fall and into 

Speaker 1 (01:07:54): 

27. Okay. 

(01:07:56): 

Okay, perfect. Cause I definitely wanna be a part of that. Um, when you think about, um, let's just assume  you're still CEO a decade from now. <laugh> With United We. You don't have to answer that. <laugh>  But truly, like what, when you look into the future, and I don't mean it to be like a cliche, like, where do  you see yourself in five years? But like, when you think down the road, what are you really hoping, um,  are maybe some of the very specific things that you could, anyone could look back and be like, wow, over  the last 10 years, Wendy and her, her team were able to really focus on this and move the needle and  make change and all the things. 

Speaker 2 (01:08:32): 

I really wanna see change in this childcare space. Okay. Number 

Speaker 1 (01:08:36): 

One. And I think 

Speaker 2 (01:08:36):

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We can. And, you know, we're chipping away at it, but I think we're gonna see significant progress there. 

Speaker 1 (01:08:40): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:08:41): 

And momentum. Um, I think the issue of the occupational licensing, but I, we also wanna see, you know,  creating this entrepreneurial culture. 

Speaker 1 (01:08:52): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (01:08:52): 

So a lot of what we've talked about - Yeah. More women business owners, more women in the workplace.  Um, you know, I think in 10 years, I'd like for us to. We're starting to focus on this a little bit on the aging  community. 

Speaker 1 (01:09:09): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (01:09:10): 

But I want women to, um, not have to worry about money as they age. 

Speaker 1 (01:09:15): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:09:16): 

I really - 

Speaker 1 (01:09:17): 

It's. We know it's one of the most stressful things, so - It's one of the 

Speaker 2 (01:09:20): 

Most stressful. Yeah. And you're starting to see just the concern and the cost of how expensive everything  is. And older people having to go back to work. 

Speaker 1 (01:09:31): 

Do you have any words of wisdom right now on that topic for women to - 

Speaker 2 (01:09:36): 

You know, 

Speaker 1 (01:09:36): 

I think this

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Speaker 2 (01:09:37): 

Retirement 

Speaker 1 (01:09:37): 

Planning. Start somewhere. Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (01:09:39): 

Start earlier. Men are great about that. 

Speaker 1 (01:09:41): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (01:09:41): 

Um, but, you know, start where you are and, um - I 

Speaker 1 (01:09:45): 

Mean, I heard today that people are using AI as their new financial advisor, so if that helps. There are so  many 

Speaker 2 (01:09:51): 

Tools out there. 

Speaker 1 (01:09:52): 

Exactly. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:09:53): 

But I really wanna ma - I really wanna lean, lean into that. 

Speaker 1 (01:09:57): 

Yeah. Okay, good. And then when it comes to how anyone can get involved - Yes. How do you want  anyone who's listening, women, men, what are all the thing. Obviously, we can follow you on, on, on -  Follow us on social. Across social 

Speaker 2 (01:10:12): 

Media. Um - 

Speaker 1 (01:10:12): 

Attend an event. 

Speaker 2 (01:10:13): 

Attend an event. Um, we do a quarterly magazine. 

Speaker 1 (01:10:17): 

Oh, yeah. Okay. And,

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Speaker 2 (01:10:18): 

Um, you can go to our website, united-we.org. 

Speaker 1 (01:10:22): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (01:10:22): 

And sign up for the quarterly magazine, and that's another way to stay connected. And then once we have,  you know, you're connected, join us when we do the research releases. And, you know - uh-huh. Take the  research and, you know, we've encouraged people, take it to your HR department for a paid family leave  policy, whatever it may be. 

Speaker 1 (01:10:41): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:10:41): 

I think there's some tools and resources that we can all take and share in our circles of 

Speaker 1 (01:10:46): 

Influence. Yeah. Take the information, bring it to your mentor at work or your boss or HR - Right. And  ignite the conversation. 

Speaker 2 (01:10:53): 

There you go. 

Speaker 1 (01:10:53): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:10:53): 

Yes. 

Speaker 1 (01:10:54): 

Perfect. Okay, good. Anything else we should know? 

Speaker 2 (01:10:56): 

I encourage, I encourage everyone, and this is a question I typically ask. Everyone should know who is  representing them, um, in the state capitals. 

Speaker 1 (01:11:07): 

Mm. 

Speaker 2 (01:11:07): 

Or who is your city councilman that's representing you? Because you never know when you're going to  need to reach out to them.

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Speaker 1 (01:11:13): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (01:11:13): 

But it's just really important for people. And most - 

Speaker 1 (01:11:16): 

Yep. 

Speaker 2 (01:11:16): 

Some people, you know, 

Speaker 1 (01:11:17): 

Everyone's - I will say I do underestimate that. I will admit it. So that's a great - Yeah. Reminder. 

Speaker 2 (01:11:22): 

Yeah. Yeah. Everyone should just take the time to pay attention to that. 

Speaker 1 (01:11:25): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (01:11:25): 

And, you know, sometimes in the, the April, um, elections or the August elections or primary, everyone's  like, uh, I'm, you know, it's raining. I'm not gonna go today. Mm-hmm. Show up and vote. Yeah. I think  that's a - It really does make it. It's a privilege. It's a privilege. I talk about that a lot. Mm-hmm. That not  everybody in the world has the freedom of showing up and voting with democracy. And at times it feels  challenging, but that's our civic responsibility. 

Speaker 1 (01:11:50): 

Okay, great. I love it. All right. Um - Let's do a couple of fun rapid fire questions. Let's do. Let's do it.  Okay. What is a perfect day in Kansas City for you, or for you and your husband? A 

Speaker 2 (01:12:03): 

Perfect day in Kansas City is the fall season. We love the fall season. Love it. And, um, we love to take a  walk around Loose Park. Yep. Um, so pretty. It's gorgeous. Um, go to the, um, get on the streetcar. 

Speaker 1 (01:12:20): 

Yep. 

Speaker 2 (01:12:20): 

Um, we haven't done 

Speaker 1 (01:12:22): 

It yet. I haven't been on in a while. I need to make it a point to get on the streetcar. Well, you

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Speaker 2 (01:12:24): 

Know they've expanded 

Speaker 1 (01:12:25): 

It - Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:12:26): 

To the CPKC stadium 

Speaker 1 (01:12:28): 

In the last last couple 

Speaker 2 (01:12:28): 

Of weeks. 

Speaker 1 (01:12:29): 

Oh my gosh. All the sober stuff from the game this weekend, people were going crazy videoing all the  people that went to the game and were taking the streetcar. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:12:36): 

Okay. So, um, doing the streetcar. 

Speaker 1 (01:12:39): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (01:12:39): 

Um, maybe catch a game at the soccer stadium. 

Speaker 1 (01:12:43): 

Maybe. Sounds like a pretty good idea. Maybe current, 

Speaker 2 (01:12:45): 

Current. Yeah. Depending on what's happening. Um, and then we love to try out restaurants. So, um - 

Speaker 1 (01:12:53): 

I always wanna know people's favorites. 

Speaker 2 (01:12:55): 

Um, right now, we have enjoyed Angen that's on 

Speaker 1 (01:13:00): 

The James 

Speaker 2 (01:13:00):

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Beard - 

Speaker 1 (01:13:01): 

Yep. 

Speaker 2 (01:13:01): 

Award list. 

Speaker 1 (01:13:02): 

They also have the Antler room. Yep. Yep. 

Speaker 2 (01:13:04): 

Antler. Enjoy that. 

Speaker 1 (01:13:06): 

Um - I love their setup. Just being able to sit and, like, talk to the chef and everybody there. 

Speaker 2 (01:13:10): 

Talk and have a conversation. And, um, it's small enough and the menu's not too complicated. So good.  We love that. Yeah. Um, let's see. We also like Billy's Grocery. Love Billy's Grocery. Women, women owned business there. Yeah. Yeah. So wanna be supportive. Be supportive of that. 

Speaker 1 (01:13:27): 

Absolutely. 

Speaker 2 (01:13:27): 

Um, yeah. We enjoy restaurants, being outside. Um, love Kansas City. 

Speaker 1 (01:13:33): 

Good. Okay. Um, you're on my podcast, obviously. But if you could host a podcast - Who. With, let's call  it two to three women who are living or not. Oh. Who do you think you would wanna host a podcast  with? Or even just have as guests onto your podcast? 

Speaker 2 (01:13:51): 

One I would like to have is Madeline Albright. Okay. Secretary, former Secretary of State. Yeah. Um, we  actually hosted her a couple of times for our event. Um, yep. And now that I had a chance to interface  with her, there's so many more questions that I wanna ask her. <laugh> Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (01:14:12): 

What do you love most about her? 

Speaker 2 (01:14:14): 

She is practical. 

Speaker 1 (01:14:15):

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Okay. 

Speaker 2 (01:14:15): 

And pragmatic. And, um, you know, she is, she was, you know, so powerful as a woman. And when we  brought her to Kansas City for our event a couple of times, her requests were, I want a king-sized bed.  Okay. I want a hotel room with a bathtub. Okay. And I want an ironing board. 

Speaker 1 (01:14:35): 

Okay. I think we can accommodate that. 

Speaker 2 (01:14:36): 

But, you know, just very practical - Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (01:14:39): 

Pragmatic. 

Speaker 2 (01:14:40): 

And what I love most about her that I wanna, I would love to just have more conversation is she, she  talked about it's never too late - Mm. For your career. She 

Speaker 1 (01:14:50): 

Did not - I love that. That is very important for me. I've heard Hoda Koppe, who I love. She said the same  thing, who's in her 60s. It is never too late. Absolutely. 

Speaker 2 (01:14:57): 

It's never too late. Yeah. And she started her civil service, um, in her late 50s. 

Speaker 1 (01:15:02): 

Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 2 (01:15:03): 

And then look where - Yeah. Where she, you know, ended up as Secretary of State. Yeah. So somebody 

Speaker 1 (01:15:08): 

Who I - 'Cause I can admit that's definitely something that I think, um, women could feel like, "Oh, well,  I probably should have started in my 20s or 30s." And it's like, why? Why am I telling myself that? What  difference does it make? You're wiser. Much wiser when you're in your 40s, 50s, 60s. So I love that. 

Speaker 2 (01:15:23): 

Yes. Um, the other person that I think would be interesting, um, who is no longer living too, kind of along  that same line of, you know, it's never too late, is Georgia O'Keefe. 

Speaker 1 (01:15:34): 

Oh, yeah.

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Speaker 2 (01:15:35): 

She started painting and, and - Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (01:15:37): 

Look 

Speaker 2 (01:15:37): 

How popular she's become - 

Speaker 1 (01:15:39): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:15:40): 

After - 

Speaker 1 (01:15:41): 

Why is that always the case with artists? It's so interesting. 

Speaker 2 (01:15:43): 

Um, but I think she's kind of interesting. I think she'd be kind of an interesting person to - 

Speaker 1 (01:15:47): 

Those are great answers. 

Speaker 2 (01:15:48): 

Just ask - I love 

Speaker 1 (01:15:49): 

That. A few 

Speaker 2 (01:15:49): 

Questions. And then, um, let's see. Um, I did a book report when, in the fourth grade on Harriet Tubman. 

Speaker 1 (01:16:00): 

Okay. 

Speaker 2 (01:16:01): 

And, um, I think that she, what I was intrigued as a fourth grader about is just her empathy, her  leadership, her saw, you know - Yeah. What doesn't make sense. 

Speaker 1 (01:16:14): 

Yep. And - 

Speaker 2 (01:16:14):

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There you go. Um, you know, did something about it and rescued all of these enslaved family 

Speaker 1 (01:16:22): 

Members and friends. She's someone I should go back and study up on. And, 

Speaker 2 (01:16:25): 

And then she ended up being a scout for the US Army. 

Speaker 1 (01:16:30): 

Oh, really? 

Speaker 2 (01:16:31): 

So this most interesting woman I just think would be so fun to - 

Speaker 1 (01:16:34): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:16:35): 

Have a conversation with. So those are 

Speaker 1 (01:16:37): 

My three. Great answers. I love that. Okay. And then anything that you are listening to, reading,  streaming right now that you would recommend for people? 

Speaker 2 (01:16:44): 

Ooh. 

Speaker 1 (01:16:45): 

I - You seem like a student of life, so I bet you're - I. Always into something interesting. 

Speaker 2 (01:16:50): 

Well, streaming, The Diplomat. 

Speaker 1 (01:16:53): 

Okay. Yep. 

Speaker 2 (01:16:55): 

The Diplomat on, on Netflix with 

Speaker 1 (01:16:57): 

Carrie 

Speaker 2 (01:16:57): 

Russell and - I

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Speaker 1 (01:16:58): 

Love Carrie Russell. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:00): 

So good. 

Speaker 1 (01:17:00): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:01): 

Um, and I think that, you know, I resonated with that because there's so much of what she's doing that we  do in our day-to-day. So - 

Speaker 1 (01:17:10): 

Yeah. Okay. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:11): 

Um - 

Speaker 1 (01:17:12): 

I'm gonna add that to my list now. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:13): 

Okay. 

Speaker 1 (01:17:14): 

I have not seen that all the way through. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:15): 

Um, let's see. Listening on podcast. I'm a, um. Gosh, I listen to a lot of different things, but on a lot of  different subjects. 

Speaker 1 (01:17:24): 

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:24): 

Um, nothing that I'm 

Speaker 1 (01:17:26): 

Really - Or any podcasts that you recommend. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:29): 

Um -

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Speaker 1 (01:17:30): 

If you follow certain ones. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:32): 

I'm always catching, I'm always catching up on, you know, what's going on in the news. Yeah. So  whether it be the New York Times, The Daily - Right. Um, you know, I just wanna know what's going  on. That's the first thing I do - I think that's it. In the morning is like, what happened? 

Speaker 1 (01:17:45): 

Yep. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:45): 

What did I miss? 

Speaker 1 (01:17:45): 

I know. I feel I need to be, like, in the know. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:47): 

In 

Speaker 1 (01:17:47): 

The know. But, like, high level. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (01:17:49): 

So I just wanna know, you know, more broadly of, you know, what's happening in the news so I stay, stay  current on that. 

Speaker 1 (01:17:55): 

Perfect. Good answer. I love it. It's great. Well, this has been so fun. Indeed, 

Speaker 2 (01:17:58): 

Thank you. 

Speaker 1 (01:17:59): 

This has 

Speaker 2 (01:17:59): 

Been really 

Speaker 1 (01:18:00): 

Enlightening. Thank you so much for coming in. Um, as I mentioned, absolutely loved listening to you at  the event. So glad that I, um - Thank you for 

Speaker 2 (01:18:06):

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Coming. 

Speaker 1 (01:18:07): 

Now am, you know, immersed in United We and to get the word out to other people that they know what  you guys are doing. And on behalf of all women, thank you. 

Speaker 2 (01:18:16): 

Oh my gosh. Well, thank you. It's huge. I'm so - Yeah, I'm so 

Speaker 1 (01:18:19): 

Glad to know. I'm so 

Speaker 2 (01:18:20): 

Excited for you and your entrepreneurial - Well, 

Speaker 1 (01:18:22): 

Thank you. 

Speaker 2 (01:18:22): 

Venture. 

Speaker 1 (01:18:23): 

Thank you so much. This has been so fun. You're a 

Speaker 2 (01:18:25): 

Trailblazer. 

Speaker 1 (01:18:25): 

Aw, thank you. <laugh> Thank you so much for tuning in and finding inspiration in these incredible  stories. If you love what you hear, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a rating and  share the show to help these Kansas City voices reach even more listeners.

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