As a public leadership coach, I work with many public administrators, political candidates, and elected leaders who question if they are making a difference in their roles, if the impact they have is worth the stress, and whether it’s time to walk away. This summer, a survey of 850 election officials in the U.S revealed …
Continue reading "How to Address Your Public Service Burnout"
Biden's soon-to-be-announced running mate, along with many women running in state and local elections, will have a different electoral experience than her male colleagues. Women candidates face double-standards upheld by voters, donors, competitors, and the media. These biases may be unconscious, but until we name it, we can't change it. This series will be an …
Continue reading "“I just don’t like her vibe” – and other ways we undermine women candidates"
In a complex world, certainty is alluring, especially in our politics. We look for leaders who are unwavering in their beliefs and uncompromising their principles. Yet, in a democracy, social change depends on people changing their minds. In this talk, I will ask you to rethink what you value in your political leaders, describe what …
https://youtu.be/2QI0aDvP_bw?t=70
If you're not from my hometown or you don't follow Hawaii politics closely, you're most likely to know me for one of two things. First, you may know me because I spoke out against Donald Trump at the Hawaii Women's March and lost my leadership position at the Legislature in a very public battle. In …
Originally published via YouTube on March 22, 2017 This isn’t a message for Republicans, or Democrats, or independents. It’s a message for everyone. In my community, people tend to vote for a person based on their merit or because they share our vision and ideas, but that’s not the way the national political system wants …
Continue reading "On joining – then leaving – the Republican party"
A version of this article was originally posted at Overachiever Magazine. In 2018, our Congresswoman and I were featured on Liz Plank's "Divided States of Women" in an episode entitled, "Hawaii is the Best State for Women." Hawaii had the largest number of women holding elective office, a smaller wage gap and better access to …
Continue reading "Solving equal takes more than legislation"
Three years ago, I posted the letter below as my official resignation from the Republican Party. I explained that I tried, for many years and from top leadership positions, to build a Republican Party that celebrated the diversity of our country and my state. I've written about why I became a Republican here, and I'll …
In 2009, After a few months of working in the Legislature, I looked to get involved in politics because I was frustrated with politicians paying more attention to their internal power dynamics and donors than to the needs of Hawaii residents who were struggling through a recession. I chose to join the Hawaii Republican Party …
In 2016, I briefly toyed with the idea of publishing a podcast about politics under a pseudonym. This script was the first we wrote - about caucuses and the chaotic world of local politics. If you're just looking for up-to-date info about the 2020 elections, I would STRONGLY recommend keeping a close eye on the …