Four steps for women considering public office

Erin Loos Cutraro shares on Breaking Glass that we need more women in office

We are living in a truly historic moment in history. Rising out of an election fraught with scandal and misinformation, comes a monumental achievement for the United States. On January 20, 2021 America swore in its first female Vice President, Kamala Harris. As Erin Loos Cutraro, Founder and CEO of She Should Run noted, “This moment of electing the first the first female Vice President, and a woman of color and a woman that represents not one community, but multiple communities will fundamentally change the game.”

Erin joined us on Breaking Glass to share her circuitous path to political activism and how passionate she feels about encouraging women from all walks of life to run for public office. Erin’s been doing this work for 10 years but it’s never been more timely than right now. Here are a few steps she shared for any woman considering running for office at any level:

1. Find your people – Join a community of diverse women who are wrestling with the same questions you are. Together you can help one another find paths toward action and accountability. (Join a virtual community)
2. Consider which office to run for – Local campaigns are far more accessible. Take the She Should Run quiz to assess where your experience fits into the political landscape. (Explore the options)
3. Build a step by step plan – Depending on which position you are interested in, it’s important to understand what a campaign would look like and which activities can help you prepare. (Learn more)
4. Connect to Resources – She Should Run has a set of free online courses to help any woman envision what it would like to serve in a political position. (Online incubator)

The conversation we had with Erin transcends geography. We spoke about why it matters that more women hold elected office, the subtle but significant ways women lead differently than men, and the systems that can be disrupted when we have equal representation. Erin is abuzz with excitement for this moment in America and she has us convinced that any woman can find a path to leadership if she sets her mind to it.