On November 20th, we sponsored the Washington Post Global Women’s Summit in Washington, D.C. and spoke alongside numerous other leaders, trailblazers, and women shifting our culture.
A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar’s session, “Populism, Politics, & Women’s Power,” followed remarks from astronaut Zena Cardman, who joined the summit virtually from outer space, and was followed by a session with GOP House chair Rep. Lisa McClain spoke.
Addressing a packed room, Inimai shared stories from two of our clients, Arya and Jennifer, two women who worked for major corporations while pregnant and were denied the accommodations they needed to stay healthy while pregnant, in spite of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act covering their situations. There were audible gasps, whispers, and head-shakes. As Inimai shared her own story navigating multiple life-altering health crises while pregnant, there were nods of recognition. When the moderator, editorial director of Washington Post Intelligence Luiza Savage, invited the room to raise their hand if these stories resonated, hands shot up throughout the room.
Inimai built on these stories to call for national paid leave and stress its importance to women and working families, and as a pressing political issue as we look to the midterm elections. “This issue is not about left and right, it’s about right and wrong. Everyone deserves to be able to take care of their family without sacrificing their paycheck, and if you believe in that, you should be supporting paid leave,” she concluded.
Other speakers at the event included: ballerina Misty Copeland, mother-daughter comedy duo Zarna Garg and Zoya Garg, Poppi Co-Founder Allison Ellsworth, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams founder Jeni Britton, entrepreneur and podcaster Emma Grede, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna, Washington Post Personal Finance Columnist Michelle Singletary, YouTube Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe, and more.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of paid leave and our work broadly on the national stage, and after this day full of engaging conversations, we are invigorated and energized to continue fighting for an economy that truly supports women and values care.
