Power Women

Chaplain Ingrid P. Lewis-Martin is an advocate for community empowerment and currently serves as the chief advisor to Mayor Eric Adams. She has worked extensively with numerous elected officials and individuals aspiring to public office. Throughout her 30+ years in the political arena, she has been instrumental in guiding numerous successful campaigns and assisting elected officials with various community initiatives.

What steps still need to be taken to increase gender parity?
This is a complex question which cannot be readily answered in a few sentences. Gender disparity is systemic within our society. Fair treatment has to be demonstrated by everyone in all walks of life to make true and permanent change. Little boys and girls should be treated equally, and then this will become the norm for all.

What can New York policymakers do to support the interests of women across the state?
Instituting special training programs for women to pursue nontraditional jobs is a good start. Policymakers should also highlight companies, corporations, and government entities that are independently hiring women in leadership capacities, and encourage others to follow suit — ideally implementing incentives for such hirings.

If you could have dinner with any women from history, who would they be and why?
Harriet Tubman — she was fearless, God fearing, and able to help hundreds of people to get permanent relief from slavery. I love her!

Celia Cruz — while she was in Cuba, she was able to unite many Cubans who believed in a two-tier society based upon skin complexion; those of darker hues were treated inferior. As a dark woman with the God-given gift of voice, she broke through many barriers. In the 1960s, she left Cuba because of the nationalization of music and became a spokesperson for those who remained.

What advice or wisdom would you share with a younger version of yourself?
I would encourage myself to go to law school and not allow a horrid attorney under whom I did an internship sour me from pursuing the profession. There are far more good attorneys than there are bad ones.

Janice Mac Avoy is partner, co-head of Fried Frank‘s Real Estate Litigation Practice, and a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. She is an expert in complex real estate transactions, commercial litigation and arbitration, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, and commercial fair market rent arbitrations. Ms. Mac Avoy has won several awards for her work, including the Commitment to Justice Award granted by Her Justice, as well as the Courage Award from The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis represents New York’s 11th Congressional District, encompassing Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. Prior to serving in Congress, Malliotakis served in the New York State Assembly for five terms. In Congress, Malliotakis is helping to increase New York’s share of transportation and infrastructure funding, championing public safety by supporting our nation’s law enforcement, and securing millions for hospitals in her district. Malliotakis is the daughter of immigrants, her father from Greece and her mother from Cuba. She is currently the only Republican representing New York City in Congress.

What steps still need to be taken to increase gender parity?
Last cycle, Republicans elected a record number of women to serve in the 117th Congress; I’m proud to be a part of this historic and diverse group. As we head into election season, nearly 300 Republican women are running to join us next Congress, which is more than at any point since 2010. Our message of freedom, security, parental rights, and economic prosperity resonates with so many in our country who are struggling today, and as a current member, it’s an honor of mine to help other women as they stand up to serve their communities.

What can New York policymakers do to support the interests of women across the state?
Public safety is an issue that greatly impacts every woman. No one should feel afraid to go to work or school. In Congress, I’m acutely focused on restoring public safety by calling on Albany to reverse its bail law that’s releasing dangerous criminals back onto our streets, cosponsoring legislation to give mothers more say in their children’s education, securing funding for the NYPD, and introducing legislation that would expose prosecutors who don’t do their jobs.

If you could have dinner with any three women from history, who would they be and why?
I would have dinner with Cher, Lucille Ball, and Joan of Arc. Cher is the greatest entertainer of all time; Lucille Ball was my childhood favorite; Joan of Arc was a badass.

What advice or wisdom would you share with a younger version of yourself?
In hindsight, you’ll realize everything happens for a reason, and sometimes what you think is a bad break is really a wonderful stroke of luck.

Carolyn Maloney is a senior member of Congress representing New York’s 12th Congressional District with a long record of progressive legislation concerning education, the economy, women’s issues, gun safety, and more. She is the first woman to serve as chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, where she is using her power to protect abortion rights and accessible reproductive healthcare. Maloney has authored and passed more than 70 laws.

What steps still need to be taken to increase gender parity?
To increase gender parity, we must enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment into our Constitution, as the 28th amendment, to protect against discrimination on the basis of sex. The certification of the ERA would finally recognize women’s equality, ensuring that sexual violence, workplace harassment, and unequal pay are addressed in our founding document. I have worked tirelessly to ratify the ERA and we need all the support we can receive to officially add it to the Constitution.

What can New York policymakers do to support the interests of women across the state?
New York policymakers must swiftly enact protections for women amidst the nationwide dismantling of an individual’s right to reproductive choice. New York has become a haven for women, with Governor Hochul’s commitment to funding women’s health care facilities, while also ensuring that women have the means to access these services. Above all, we need women in power. By electing women, we ensure both our own protection and that of future generations.

If you could have dinner with three women from history, who would they be and why?
Marsha P. Johnson because I am inspired by her work in advancing rights for LGBTQ+ individuals as a prominent transgender activist. I admire Johnson’s relentless drive and grassroots focus. Edmonia Lewis, who used her artistic talent to draw attention to crucial social causes, while combatting racial discrimination. Art bonds our communities together, and builds a better world. Finally Shirley Chisholm, whose historic path inspired my own. She was the first black female Congresswoman and fellow teacher turned politician. I had the honor of working with her in her lifetime and would give anything for one more dinner with her.

What advice or wisdom would you share with a younger version of yourself?
Never take no for an answer. Throughout my time in public service, people have always told me ‘No,’ but I have done everything to prove the naysayers wrong. People will doubt you, tell you your ideas are too big, unrealistic, or unable to succeed. A younger version of myself could not have predicted our political climate today, but I hope that I am making her proud by staying committed to push through adversity and doubt. My younger self should know that people will underestimate her, but to never lose sight of her goal to solve problems.

Lynn Martin is president of NYSE Group, which includes the New York Stock Exchange, the world’s largest stock market. Martin is the 68th president of the New York Stock Exchange and the second woman to lead the exchange in its 230-year history. In addition to the exchange, NYSE Group includes four fully electronic equity markets, including NYSE Arca, the industry leader in ETFs, and two options exchanges. Martin is also chair of fixed income and data services at Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), the parent of NYSE Group.

Congresswoman Grace Meng is serving her fifth term in the House of Representatives. She represents parts of Queens and is the first and only Asian American congressmember from New York. She also sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which funds the federal government. Born in Elmhurst and raised in Bayside-Flushing, Grace graduated from Stuyvesant High School, University of Michigan, and Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. She previously served in the State Assembly and as a public-interest lawyer. Grace resides in Queens with her husband, Wayne, and sons, Tyler and Brandon.

What steps still need to be taken to increase gender parity?
Unfortunately, women still lag behind men in many areas, including in wages.

Women, on average, earn 83 cents for every dollar made by men. This is unacceptable and it’s way past time for this inequity to change. I am proud to have cosponsored legislation which would close loopholes that allow employers to pay women less.

Closing the pay gap would not only knock down barriers to gender parity and help women grow and thrive. Equal pay would also help ensure a strong economy, improve the lives of families, and strengthen the future prosperity of our country. When women succeed, America succeeds!

What can New York policymakers do to support the interests of women across the state?
I’ve worked to empower women from helping moms to supporting female entrepreneurs.

Our government must be a partner in helping women flourish by enacting paid leave, childcare, universal pre-K, and more. As we recover from the pandemic, we must ensure nobody gets left behind, including New York women and particularly women of color, who are disproportionately impacted.

With Roe v. Wade overturned, we must also fight to ensure that every woman has her right to choose protected in state and federal law.

If you could have dinner with any three women from history, who would they be and why?
Harriet Tubman and Helen Keller, both of whose vital work had ties to Queens. I would also choose my grandma, who has been a huge inspiration to me. She was the first in my family to come to America and took care of me and my siblings while my parents worked long hours. She never went to high school or college and was never involved in politics. But she is one of the wisest people I have ever known. She actually learned English by watching soap operas. The values and lessons she taught me remain with me to this day.

What advice or wisdom would you share with a younger version of yourself?
Pursue your dreams and aspirations. Start young, work hard, and don’t give up. And never be discouraged by the naysayers who tell you that you cannot achieve your goals. When I first ran for public office, many people told me I had no chance. When I spearheaded certain pieces of legislation, many said they would never pass — yet they became the law of the land. I also encourage young people to be involved in their community and to treat people the way they want to be treated.

Melva M. Miller is the Association for a Better New York’s first chief executive officer and responsible for moving the organization’s vision forward through economic development, long-term planning, and stakeholder engagement. Ms. Miller has served as the deputy borough president of Queens with achievements that include the creation of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, a stakeholder-driven strategy to increase the economic revitalization of downtown Jamaica. Ms. Miller also led the Western Queens Tech Strategic Plan, which produced a blueprint for equitable growth of the Long Island City and Astoria tech ecosystem.

Sue is a beauty entrepreneur and innovator. Prior to joining Coty, she founded and ran the new-age luxury skincare line Orveda. She also spent 20 years at L’Oréal, where she presided over such iconic brands as L’Oréal Paris and Lancôme. Sue holds an advanced master’s degree in Marketing Management from Paris Business School ESSEC, and is an agronomist and environmental engineer by training.

Kathleen Navarro is senior vice president, head of talent management, and chief diversity officer at New York Life, leading the company’s integrated talent management and DE&I strategies. Ms. Navarro joined New York Life in 1994 and holds an M.B.A. from Baruch College Zicklin School of Business, a B.S. from New York University Stern School of Business, and a certification in Building and Leading Diverse Organizations from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education. She sits on the board of the National Diversity Council.

What steps still need to be taken to increase gender parity?
Reaching gender parity requires education and targeted actions. Breaking unconscious biases that we learn from a young age and teaching all children that girls are capable of being whatever they desire is a starting point. Education doesn’t end there;  it’s important that women and men stay informed about gender disparities, understand the statistics, and take action — through voting and legislation in the public arena, and through corporate policies, mentoring, and development in the private sector. This is an area where public and private sectors can come together to develop community-based programs supporting girls and women in the workforce.

What can New York policymakers do to support the interests of women across the state?
Pave the way for more women to engage in politics and enter political careers through expanding mentoring and training programs to prepare women for political work. Women make up more than half the population in New York State. Tapping into the full talent pool and increasing gender diversity in representation will bring different perspectives to the table, enact more policies that support women, and create a state where everyone can thrive, benefitting all New Yorkers.

If you could have dinner with any three women from history, who would they be and why?
Rosalind Franklin’s contributions to the discovery of DNA structure were largely unrecognized during her lifetime. It would be fascinating to discuss her perseverance and what she thinks of the impact of her work. Leah Chase was a celebrated chef and community leader in New Orleans. I’d love to hear how she shaped change by bringing together people of all races and backgrounds to share meals, converse, and spend time together. Malala Yousafrazi is an inspiration across the globe. I’d like to hear where she gets her courage — she has faced fierce adversity fighting for girls’ education and gender equality.

What advice or wisdom would you share with a younger version of yourself?
My advice to my younger self is to take a moment to recognize and celebrate accomplishments. Women tend to be hard on ourselves, focusing on what went wrong or what could have gone better. While it’s important to be self-aware and continue to grow and learn, it’s also important to take the time to recognize the bold women that we are, help celebrate each other, and take credit for the impact we make.

The daughter of Nigerian immigrant parents, Sochie Nnaemeka first began organizing in college with a local union of cafeteria and custodial workers, sparking an unwavering commitment to people-powered movements. She later attended Georgetown Law, where she studied how labor law might better serve and embolden working people. In her current role as New York State director, Sochie wields her expertise to grow the Working Families Party and fight for a New York that works for the many. Sochie lives with her husband and their five year old son in Mount Vernon, New York.

What steps still need to be taken to increase gender parity?
Within the current system we exist in, most steps would be minor tweaks as gender violence, gender oppression, and exploitation are baked into our economic, racial, and political systems.

As a nation, one step we can take is valuing care work. This is an issue of gender parity from a labor standpoint and a social infrastructure standpoint. We must both recognize and reward the essential labor of care workers, who are majority women and we must also release women (and caregivers) of the pitfalls and burdens of navigating a society that fails to invest in the care economy.

What can New York policymakers do to support the interests of women across the state?
New York lawmakers have to focus on structural change and invest at scale — when we lead with big and truly universalist social programming, we uplift all communities, especially women. We need to invest in full family leave. We need to build our social safety net and infrastructure from truly affordable housing to transit access. These are issues that disproportionately burden women, working class women, and women of color.

If you could have dinner with any three women from history, who would they be and why?
Ella Baker — brilliant strategist and organizer who believed in our people and our ability to build something new, but did NOT believe in shortcuts. You can’t cut corners if you’re trying to build durable power. Simone de Beauvoir — enjoyed both the deeply serious and the deeply pleasurable, and (as do I) did not believe those to be incompatible. Rihanna — Rih is so self-possessed, visionary and resists the toxic pull of “girl boss” energy. I’d also invite Toni Morrison, Winnie Mandela, Arundhati Roy, Joan d’Arc and Angela Davis. That’d be fun right?

What advice or wisdom would you share with a younger version of yourself?
You don’t need to know what’s at the end of the long road, but you need to be clear about the purpose of the current mission you’re on. Life is long, you don’t need to have all the answers, as long as you’re surrounded by a few good people you trust, and you are challenged to be the best version of yourself in the moment — then relish the experience, and be okay making sense of it all later!