Heather Monahan is a business expert, mentor and speaker who empowers women to succeed by celebrating their strengths and utilizing what makes them unique. Her namesake website, www.heathermonahan.com, aimed at empowering women in their careers and beyond, will launch this month.
Orethapedia: Thoughts on the possibility of a female President of the United States:
Heather Monahan: “It is not a possibility, this is an inevitable event. This is not a question of ‘if’ it is a question of ‘when’. Truly this is about the right woman for this country running for president, not if a woman could win.”
Orethapedia: What do you think women should know when choosing a career in politics that no one tells?
Heather Monahan: “Anyone, regardless of gender, needs to be acutely aware of what opening your life up to the public entails.”
Orethapedia:Who is your favorite politician and why?
Heather Monahan: “Condoleezza Rice is a true inspiration to me. Not only succeeding and leading as the first black woman to serve as secretary of state, but simultaneously overcoming the racism issues and challenges that she certainly faced. I admire her strength and courage to blaze a trail for others to succeed.”
Orethapedia: What advice would you give women who work in male dominated industries?
Heather Monahan: “Be yourself, don’t be intimidated by others – you are in the room for a reason. When you have an idea, speak up and always listen to your intuition and act on it regardless of what popular opinion is.”
In 2016, women hold 104, or 19.4%, of the 535 seats in the 114th U.S. Congress – 20, or 20.0%, of the 100 seats in the Senate and 84, or 19.3%, of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who was the first woman Speaker of the House, is now minority leader. Seventy six of those women hold statewide elective executive offices across the country; women hold 24.4% of the 312 available positions. Among these women, 34 are Democrats, 41 are Republicans and 1 is non-partisan.
Here is how it shapes up:
