April 26-27, 2018 | Disneyland Resort  
I know I'm repeating myself, but...

In case you hadn't noticed, we've got statewide elections in less than 100 days. Like many of you, I've been asked to comment on the record number of women who are choosing to run and to opine on whether or not 2018 might be a repeat of 1992's Year of the Woman. That year, you'll recall, Americans elected more new women to Congress than in any prior decade. Nationally, eleven women were nominated for U.S. Senate and 106 ran for House seats in the general election. Ultimately, twenty-four women were elected to the House, three to the Senate. Seven women were elected to Congress from California that year - including two U.S. Senators, Barbara Boxer and (invited conference guest) Dianne Feinstein.
 
Pundits still debate what led to the historic outcome and I would argue that a 'brilliant combination' of elements shifted the tide - an economic downturn which negatively impacted incumbents, the effects of redistricting after a 1990 Census, a significant number of Congressional retirements and fallout from the confirmation hearings for then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas (whose former aide, Anita Hill, accused him of sexual harassment). All of those elements set the stage for a pivotal election. But, something else also occurred.
 
A record number of women chose to run that year. Many, if not most, of those women were running with notable experience. Most importantly, many believe the level of funding available to those women was also unprecedented. Pretty simple formula: More candidates + more cash = more women serving in elective office.
 
If you're among the women who've chosen to run, thank you for taking on the challenge. For the rest of us, let's make a commitment to helping them get elected. I know I'm repeating myself, but I'll say it again: women hold the power to get other women elected, power we often choose not to leverage. We've got to pull out our checkbooks and write big checks for qualified women. We've got to kick off our pumps and walk precincts for them, two or three weekends in a row.  And, we have to show up for them on election day and vote for them. Anything less, and we all lose. 
 
We'll talk more about it in April. I'll see you then. #CaWomenLead


Cassandra Pye 
President, CA Women Lead


SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT: 
GILLIAN WRIGHT, 
VICE PRESIDENT, CUSTOMER SERVICES; SoCalGas 
    WOMEN LEADING IN BUSINESS KEYNOTE PANEL 

Gillian Wright is Vice President, Customer Services for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), a Sempra Energy regulated California utility. She oversees the company's interaction with customers, including the call centers, field activities, billing and payments, and is responsible for completing a $1 billion project to deploy nearly six million advanced meters.

Previously, as director of customer programs and assistance, Wright managed a $200 million annual budget for energy efficiency and low income customer assistance programs. In addition, she oversaw the formation of a historic partnership between SoCalGas and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) to provide energy efficiency programs to the two utilities' shared customers.  She joined SoCalGas as a regulatory analyst in 1999 and has served in a variety of roles in regulatory affairs and customer service for Sempra since then.

Wright is a member of the board of the Los Angeles Business Council, California State University Foundation and LA Family Housing. She serves on the customer service committee for the American Gas Association and on the board of directors for the Western Energy Institute. She is also past chair and a former member of the board for the Energy Solutions Center and a graduate of Leadership California. Wright holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Reed College.
SESSION HIGHLIGHT: 
USING YOUR VOICE- BEING PERSUASIVE ON YOUR BOARD

Being persuasive requires more than logic and content. This session inspires women appointees to understand what it means to be persuasive on their appointed board or commission. This session will discuss the two methods of persuasion: rational and irrational.  During this session, attendees will gain insight into persuasive design and how it can be applied while serving in appointed positions.


Session presenter:
Cecilia Estolano
 President, Community College Board of Governors 

Cecilia V. Estolano is an expert in sustainable economic development and urban revitalization. She is Co-Founder of Estolano LeSar Perez Advisors (ELP Advisors) which provides consulting services to public agencies, foundations, business associations and other stakeholders seeking to grow thriving, healthy and vibrant communities. Estolano previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA).

Under Estolano's tenure, CRA/LA was the largest redevelopment agency in California, with an annual budget of over $726 million and a work program covering 32 project areas. Estolano redefined the role of CRA/LA, rebuilt its housing department, shepherded CRA/LA's adoption of landmark policies on local hiring in construction jobs and the promotion of Healthy Neighborhoods, and created a $42 million Land Acquisition Fund to jump start development in underserved markets like South Los Angeles. Estolano conceived of Los Angeles' CleanTech Corridor and was an early driver behind the creation of Clean Tech Los Angeles and the Los Angeles CleanTech Incubator.

Prior to joining CRA/LA, Estolano was Of Counsel in the Los Angeles office of the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She represented developer, private equity fund and lender clients in land use, zoning, redevelopment, environmental, real estate, energy and telecommunications matters.

Estolano's career includes service on the California Coastal Commission, as a Special Assistant Los Angeles City Attorney, as a Senior Policy Advisor with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and as Environmental Policy Advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

Estolano is a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law and holds an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA. She received her undergraduate degree in Social Studies with honors from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges. Estolano is a former Regents Lecturer at UCLA and the former Lee Chair in Real Estate Law and Urban Planning at the School of Law and College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught courses in urban planning and sustainable economic development. Estolano also sits on the Board of Directors of Manufacturing Renaissance, the National Employment Law Project, and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.


CONFERENCE PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: STATE FARM

"State Farm Insurance has been a longtime supporter of California Women Lead and our programs.  We appreciate their support of our mission to inspire women in their  personal, professional and political leadership journeys."

-Rachel Michelin, CEO; California Women Lead


Interested in joining State Farm as a conference partner? 
ARTICLES WE ARE READING

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
California Women Lead is a nonpartisan organization that welcomes women (and men) at any career level to join us at this conference. Our conference is open to anyone interested in advancing her/his personal, professional and political futures.
 
WHY SHOULD I ATTEND?
The two-day event provides opportunities to expand your knowledge as well as your circle of personal and professional contacts. Our keynote panels will inspire you and our interactive breakout sessions will build your personal, professional and political skill set.
 
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
You will have the chance to create your own program from a menu of difference breakout sessions ranging from negotiating skills, imposer syndrome, graciously navigating the workforce, how to get appointed to a board or commission, how to run for elected office and so much more!


California Women Lead   |   (916) 551-1920