We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wendy Doyle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wendy below.

Wendy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I appreciate this question. It’s not asked frequently, yet leaders are taking risks every day to better themselves, their teams, their organization and their communities.

When I was approached to lead United WE, I was very happy in my current position. I was not looking to leave or to pursue a new opportunity. At that time, United WE had a different name and significantly different approach to supporting women. As a traditional Women’s Foundation, its primary responsibility was to provide funds to different entities that were empowering women. It was a successful organization with a wonderful reputation of more than 20 years. However, I knew in order to make sustainable, big changes for women the model would have to change. The first risk I took was sharing this new vision with the search committee. That in itself was bold because they were not necessarily seeking change either. After more conversations, we decided it was time for something new… and something bold.

I started my role as President and CEO of United WE in June 2013 with a completely new organizational model to implement. All leaders of organizational transformation know that growing and changing requires strategic and visionary risk. We also know that it cannot be done
alone. Together, after a few years of hard work, we developed a three-part model that is transforming hundreds of thousands of women’s lives across the nation.

1. We believe evidence-based research is essential to revealing the truth about the issues holding women back.
2. We implement practical, nonpartisan policy solutions to help all women succeed.
3. We get results. This model has enacted 17 new laws, 9 executive orders, 25 administrative actions and the appointment of more than 180 women to boards and commissions.

I am proud to say that the risk paid off. Our team, organization and most importantly – our impact continues to grow. I think there is a misconception that women are less likely to take risks. In my discussion with women across the region, many are ready to move forward with their dreams, especially entrepreneurial ones. However, the system often creates barriers that block them from being successful.

More than 70% of the women we spoke to in Kansas during the summer of 2022 said their relationship with their banker is transactional, not relational. This presents issues when women entrepreneurs are seeking funding to start their own business. “I was laughed at when I sought a loan for my new business, so I had to open up several credit cards just to get things started,” said one Kansas woman.

Unfortunately, her story is only one of many. Access to capital is a key factor in helping women take risks towards financial independence and security. Learn more entrepreneurial risks women in Kansas are taking and the real barriers they are facing here.

Wendy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It is an honor to share my perspective with the CanvasRebel community. I am Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of United WE. I fearlessly advocate for women’s economic and civic advancement by advancing their voices and producing results. I regularly educate and inform decision-makers and community leaders about policy solutions for women at local, county, and state levels.

More specifically, I am committed to impacting hundreds of thousands of women and families through transformative research, scaling United WE’s fast-growing Appointments Project®, advocating for reforms that honor the legacies of women, and contributing to policy solutions
that advance equal pay, paid family leave, affordable childcare and occupational licensing, among others.

Personally, I enjoy running, traveling, modern art and design and restoring old cars.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Be flexible.

If I have learned anything during my tenure as a leader and growing a network to advance women, it is the importance of flexibility and the ability to pivot.

The pandemic presented all of us with an opportunity to do just this. No one expected stay-at-home orders or city-wide shutdowns. Those who were able to adapt and continue moving forward by looking at their plans through a new lens not only made it through the pandemic but thrived.

Flexibility led to creativity, which offered new ideas to connect with and grow our network.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Not all of the work we do for women is flashy and mainstream. While all of the issues we are facing are nuanced and complicated, some are far less well-known than others. For example, our research shows that women are 3x more likely to be in a career that requires a license or
certificate – in other words, occupational licensing requirements disproportionately affect women.

In 2015, United WE began advocating for nonpartisan policy reform that would eliminate a cosmetology license for hair braiders in Missouri. Hair braiders were required to attend cosmetology school, costing $13,000 and 1,500 training hours even though cosmetology school
training and exams did not cover hair braiding. We knew this barrier mostly impacted Black women was preventing job opportunities. For years, we communicated the research, offered testimonials and shared stories of women directly impacted by this red tape. While the work was long and tiresome, the impact we knew would be possible kept us going.

In 2018, the Missouri legislature passed House Bill 1500, which among other licensing reforms, allowed hair braiders to register, pay a $20 fee, watch a four- to six-hour training video, and submit to board inspections instead of obtaining a license.

This was a hard-won, but huge win for women in Missouri! The resiliency of the entire team who continued to work towards this effort was inspirational. Every time I think back to that time, I remember the African Proverb, “To go quick, go alone. To go far, go together,” because that is exactly what we did. We worked together to create real meaningful change.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: United WE Instagram
• Facebook: United WE Facebook
• Linkedin: United WE LinkedIn, Wendy Doyle LinkedIn
• Twitter: United WE Twitter, Wendy Doyle Twitter