I’ve been a feminist all my life, even before I knew what that was.  As a child, I recognized that women had a very different set of rules, roles, and expectations than the men.  At that time, I figured I would just grow up to be a man. It looked like a better deal.  

Through university and my early career in outdoor leadership, I continued to develop my ideas. In 2002, I published a journal article called An Exploration of Differences and Perceptions of Difference Between Male and Female Challenge Course Instructors.  I also began experimenting with women’s leadership models. 

From 2000-2004, I co-founded and co-led an expedition and fundraising event called, Paddle to a Cure: Journeys of Hope.   I collaborated with three other women leaders. Our vision was that expeditions could be accessible, inclusive and serve the community.  Over a five-year period, we led hundreds of people whose lives had been touched by breast cancer into the wilderness for healing experiences. We did not follow the conventional organizational model and experienced the powerful potential of a participative, non-hierarchical and collaborative organization. This led to empowerment and inclusion. Our vision was never lost or diluted.  And, we had a ton of fun! I learned how much return you get on your investment when you live by your vision, harness the power of collective problem-solving and have the courage to do things differently.  We raised almost $1 million for breast cancer research and education, and we built deep and lasting relationships. That experience still guides me to this day when I think about the potential of women in leadership.