Tag: investor spotlight

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we are publishing a series of blogs about the women behind EDC—our fearless leaders, our board members, our executive committee, our guiding lights. Today, we have The Honorable Toni Atkins, CA Senate President Pro Tempore representing the 39th district, San Diego!

Tell us who you are. Why did you choose your career?

At my heart, I would say I am a public servant. And I didn’t choose my career—it chose me!

I grew up in Virginia, the daughter of a seamstress and a coal miner. We were working poor. At the time, I didn’t think that government nor mainstream society saw me or understood me – not until I began studying political science at Emory and Henry College. There, I found my voice, came out as a lesbian, and began to support social justice causes, feminist rights, and the rights of my LGBTQ community.

I arrived in San Diego in 1985 and first worked as Director of Services at Womancare Health Center before my mentor, former Senator and then Councilwoman Christine Kehoe, hired me on her staff. That’s when my love of public service began. I’m so grateful to Chris for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime.

I was elected to succeed her seat on the City Council in 2000. From there, I have had the privilege of serving as Acting Mayor, State Assemblymember, Assembly Speaker, acting Governor twice—the first gay Governor of California, in fact—and now Senate President pro Tempore. I am the first woman, the first member of the LGBTQ community, and the first person in almost 150 years to lead both the Assembly and the Senate. I wish my mother was here to see it all.

What does your involvement in EDC mean to you?

I am honored to serve on EDC’s board of directors. EDC is such a dynamic agency that tells San Diego’s story in so many ways. Sharing San Diego’s tech, biotech, tourism, business, and military related Good News helps raise awareness at the state, national and international level about what our region is doing.

For much of the year, my time is spent between Sacramento and San Diego, but my Special Assistant/District Policy Director Deanna Spehn ensures we stay up to date. I enjoy my annual visit with the board to recap the legislative year and look forward to the next.

This board’s leadership has always been top notch. Mark Cafferty has put together an outstanding staff that produces impactful reports and analyses on what is happening within San Diego’s economy, what it takes to do business in our region, and what the new options are for current and future companies.

EDC always inspires me to think of the possibilities ahead, not only for our region— including Baja, California—but also for our state in terms of how we can continue to grow our economy, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m so proud to represent the 39th State Senate District, and EDC is a strong partner in amplifying the role San Diego plays.

What role do you see women playing across the San Diego region in the next five years?

There is no lack of talented women in San Diego. Women in leadership is not a new phenomenon. We are mothers, daughters, State Senate leaders, Secretaries of State, Mayors, Council Presidents, non-profit, healthcare and education executives. And our neighboring city of Tijuana, Mexico has its first woman Mayor, The Honorable Karla Ruiz MacFarland.

Together, we are working to bring out the best of our region. In five years, I expect our influence to spread across the State and our nation.

It is through our collaboration with organizations like EDC, who are committed to inclusivity and recognizing of the importance of female leaders, that will allow us to address barriers like underrepresentation in top business roles and pay inequity, that too many women in America face every day.

Share with us your favorite quote.

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

What advice do you have for women in business?

I would encourage women to continue to find ways to lead and build each other up. I am here because my mentor gave me a chance.

I want to see more women – of all communities, ages and backgrounds – included on boards, planning groups, and leading nonprofits and corporations, which is why in 2018, I served as joint author of SB 826, a bill that promoted equitable and diverse gender representation on corporate boards by requiring every publicly-held corporation in California to add women to their board of directors. Legislation is a critical component to addressing inequity in the business world, but we also need the private sector to actively recruit women and support future generations of women. I hope to do the same in encouraging more women to run for public office.

When women succeed, society succeeds – we all succeed.

Women make 82 cents for every dollar men do. #COVID19 has worsened the gender inequities we see, as women lost their jobs, or had to leave them at higher rates than men. That’s why we're reopening schools, providing stimulus checks & the #CalEITC, & supporting small businesses. pic.twitter.com/8QsWrT7zjc

— Senator Toni Atkins (@SenToniAtkins) March 24, 2021

Follow along with Senator Atkins on Twitter: @SenToniAtkins

In recognition of Women’s History Month, EDC is publishing a series of blogs about the women behind EDC. Our fearless leaders, our board members, our executive committee, our guiding lights. To kick it off, a piece by an entrepreneur, a visionary, and only the second woman to lead EDC’s board, our former chair: Ms. Janice Brown.

Tell us who you are and what you do. Why did you choose your career?

Some time ago, I was called a “Chief Executive Optimist.” I don’t think that’s a bad description of who I am, but I was not born sunny. My optimism is earned. Now, people see me as a lawyer and an entrepreneur. I had my own firm and am now part-owner in my fabulous new gig, Meyers/Nave. I also have a side hustle called Beyond Law, wherein I teach lawyers and law students how to be successful from the inside out. I call it building “soul muscles.”

My journey started with my father who joined the Air Force when he was 17 and my mother who married my father, when she was 17. They have been married for over 64 years. My father tells me that I am legit. Over five years ago, I lost my only brother to a heart attack. He was my little brother, but he was about 6’ 4” tall. I remember the day that my father called me to tell me that he had died. I was in New York City about to give a speech and I fell to the floor, ice cold. Of course, I recovered and gave the speech, through tears, which I dedicated to him. I typically don’t share my sad stories, but those stories are what caused me to purposefully look for the good in my life and in the eyes of others. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I don’t see that light, but I still always look for it. I learned that we are most often able to see it if we look for it.

My first “lucky break” was getting a scholarship to Gonzaga Law School. I had been accepted by other schools, but Gonzaga’s scholarship allowed me to finish law school early without much debt, as I had a full ride. After five years of undergrad (I spent about five months as a USO singer traveling throughout Korea, Okinawa, Guam and the Philippines – that was the “lost” year), and two years of law school, I was accepted into the Department of Justice in the Tax Division as a Trial lawyer. That was another life-changer, as San Diego was my docket, which is how I ended up in this loveliest of regions.

I have been married before. I am happily single now, with a full life that includes my parents (who I plan to help move here, as soon as COVID gets a bit more manageable), my friends, my love of books, music, movies, wine, good humor, and good hearts. I remain active in San Diego and have been a part of the fabric of this city and region for my entire time here. I truly love it.

What does your involvement in EDC mean to you?

Lauree Sahba recruited me to EDC, which perplexed me because I didn’t see any true connection between the organization and myself. But I quickly learned that my perception was in error. EDC is a community of like-minded and like-hearted people who believe that economic inclusion is the path forward for our region. The ‘what’s-in-it-for-me’ approach that we see too often on the news isn’t the prominent feeling at EDC. It’s community; it’s family; it’s given me oh so much more than I have given it. I recognize that being the EDC Chair enhanced my profile in this region, but more than anything, it taught me to be myself and to connect authentically. EDC staff, respectfully, is the best in town.

What role do you see women playing across the San Diego region in the next five years?

First, women are going to need to recover. COVID hit women a lot harder than men, primarily because women still bear the majority of benefits and burdens that come with family. We also hold the heart space in many of our organizations, and if we are too tired or too stressed or too bored, that heart space is weakened. So first, we’ve got to recover. Next, I think we need to self-define. So often, we look to others and seek a sense of our value from what is reflected back to us. We need to change that. We are overdue for that change. We need to lead from that heart space. I had the chance to do that at EDC and it’s a beautiful thing. EDC has been the home for many female employees who are contributing to our region in amazing ways. And our board is rich with talented women who can frankly do anything they please.  We just need to decide and then—watch out!

Share with us your favorite quote.

“Your biggest fear is that you are powerful beyond measure”  from a poem by Marianne Williamson.

What advice do you have for women in business?

Be You.  Fully.  Richly.  Just You.

Gratitude expands. Name one thing you’re grateful for: Me – I have a lot of love in my life. Now you.

— Janice Brown (@JPatrice4080) March 4, 2021

Follow along with Janice on Twitter: @JPatrice4080.