In the wake of #MeToo and #TimesUp, how can organization’s foster meaningful and tangible change? A celebrated champion of women’s rights and Founder of non-profit Deeds Not Words, WENDY DAVIS sheds light on what organizations across industry can do to build environments where every voice is heard and everyone is empowered to succeed. Named to Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Davis knows what it takes to build an organization where change isn’t just talked about, but happens. Drawing on her powerful personal experiences and current work actively shaping the next generation of leaders and creating legislation around sexual violence, harassment, and women’s rights, Davis reveals a roadmap for positive progress. Candid, inspiring, and chock-full of implementable takeaways, Davis’ one-of-a-kind program leaves individuals and organizations empowered and prepared to build diverse, inclusive and equitable work environments.

How can we move forward from the powerful cultural and political awakening of #MeToo? How do we take steps to actively promote change on a policy and leadership level? As a single mother-turned-Harvard Law graduate, WENDY DAVIS has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges women face during her time as a Texas state senator and as Texas’ 2014 Democratic gubernatorial nominee. Through her work at Deeds Not Words, Davis has worked with young women to introduce and advocate passage of legislation to advance women’s rights, and by doing so, is training the next generation of diverse, female leaders. In this timely and crucial conversation, Davis discusses the obstacles the women’s movement still faces and how we can overcome them. She shares insights from working with millennials and members of Gen Z, and what the future of advocacy, leadership and policy should and will look like.  

Women have been standing up and fighting to advance their rights in areas ranging from equal opportunity to equal pay for years. While every woman deserves a fair chance to reach her full potential, is it also possible that achieving equal rights for women, who are responsible for approximately 80 percent of US household spending, can lead to achieving the broader goal of a positive impact on the economy? WENDY DAVIS, a legislative powerhouse known for her work on policy matters ranging from education reform to reproductive freedom, offers a unique perspective on how America’s economic potential relies on smart policy—at the workplace and in government—that ensures women’s equality continues to advance. Every rung women advance on the ladder to equality and every new crack in the glass ceiling pays dividends toward what Davis calls “the equality economy”—a strengthening of the economy through legislation that protects and advances the individual and collective rights of women.

WENDY DAVIS, a modern-day Texas heroine, appeared on the national scene as a State Senator during her 2013 filibuster that temporarily blocked devastating legislation seeking to limit women’s access to abortions and reproductive healthcare in the state of Texas. Before that, Davis fought tirelessly in the Texas legislature to further equality for women through education, fair lending, and equal pay initiatives. A single mother from humble beginnings who worked her way to Harvard Law, Davis shares her inspiring story of overcoming adversity, fear, and self-doubt to reach these incredible heights and underscores the importance of how every woman’s story can make a difference.