LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Getting it Done — With a Special Nod to Moms .
PHOTO BY TERENCE DUFFY
“ Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm ."
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
As we put together our annual Women in Leadership issue ( one of my favorite issues of the year ), I can ’ t help but think what a huge role women play in our world — and it ’ s why we dedicate an issue every year to women in leadership .
Women are mothers , daughters , sisters , aunts , nieces , grandmothers , friends and mentors . They ’ re also community leaders , they ’ re compassionate , they ’ re patient , they ’ re detailoriented , they want to make a difference , and they truly want to help one another succeed .
For years they ’ ve been growing in number on corporate boards , as entrepreneurs , biotechnicians , CEOs , executive directors of nonprofits , doctors and attorneys . Many play in fields historically dominated by men , like construction , infrastructure , development , land use , chemistry , engineering and politics .
A woman we featured on the cover of Comstock ’ s some years ago was the first woman to professionally climb poles to install wiring for the phone company — very untraditional at the time . Several women I know in top leadership roles are the breadwinners in their families while their husbands are the homemakers .
Where does the desire to be in business come from for young women ? How far back did it start ? When I was growing up in the small town of Nevada City , being a success in business certainly wasn ’ t a major drive for any women I knew . But that was then . It ’ s different now . Perhaps it just evolves out of the experiences , empathy , drive , education and opportunity that cross our paths . Or perhaps it comes from parents who often want their children to outperform them in every way , from professional achievement and broad experience to personal contentment and joy of life .
Most of the successful women I ’ ve had the good fortune of knowing and working with throughout the years were blessed to have grown up with a mom who encouraged them , and sometimes even challenged them . Mine was an encourager , but never pushy . She wanted all three of her children to aspire to whatever we wanted for our lives . I remember at the time , however , being told that my work choices ( common for young women then ) were being a nurse , a teacher or a secretary . I chose the latter . I studied and trained hard and could type and take shorthand extremely well . I wished there was a national competition I could enter and
win as I could type faster than anyone , anywhere , and with great accuracy . Those skills have served me very well through the years . Still , I wanted to keep growing and doing and being more — to pursue untraditional goals .
Rudyard Kipling is a favorite poet ( his poem “ If ” is a must read — good advice for a better world ) who writes “ God could not be everywhere , so He made mothers .”
Women are special in so many ways . Of the special women in my life , my mom is at the top of the list ; my daughter , Carmel , a very close second . It still comes to my mind every day for just a split second : “ Oh , I ’ ve got to call mom .” Then it hits me like a rock — very sadly , I can ’ t do that any longer as she passed away just weeks ago , on Jan . 13 , at the wonderful age of 101 and 2 months . I didn ’ t get to say all the important things I wanted to say to her before she passed , but I wonder if anyone really does .
Can you guess that my mom was also my very best friend ? Throughout my life , she was always there for me , no matter what I was going through . There ’ s a special bond between a mother and a daughter that often spurs a daughter to be her best self . My mom was my reassurance , my support , always telling me everything was going to be okay , no matter what .
Regardless of our role in life , women seem to be the glue that holds everything together . And what I love about women is that they get it done , whatever “ it ” might be . And they create a strong presence , legacy , community and progress wherever they go .
There ’ s a lot to read in this issue , from cover to cover , and I know you ’ ll enjoy reading the great stories of these women in leadership — inspiration to the max !
And before this day ends , call your mom if you still can . If you can ’ t , then call upon her . She ’ ll always be with you .
Winnie Comstock-Carlson President and Publisher
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