On March 7 and 14, the La Follette School partnered with Wisconsin Women in Government to bring together 25 women working in state government, city government, the nonprofit sector, and legislative offices to discuss leadership in public service during the annual WWIG Leadership Seminar. The participants, who came from all around Wisconsin—from Lake Superior to the city of Milwaukee—learned from successful women in policy careers and created networks that will serve them throughout their careers.
La Follette faculty members Amber Wichowsky, Tana Johnson, Susan Webb Yackee, and Mariel Barnes led instruction and activities around leadership, public management, constructive dialogue, and challenges and solutions in the workplace. Jill Mueller, a coach from Darcy Luoma Coaching and Consulting, worked with participants to identify where to spend time to achieve results that reflect their values.
A highlight of the event was a panel featuring Kennedy Borman, Universities of Wisconsin director of state relations; Anne Hanson, Wisconsin Department of Administration deputy secretary; and TR Williams, TRWConsult414 principal and owner. The panel was moderated by Allison Cramer, WWIG president and director of public policy for the Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter. The panel shared their career paths, their experiences around creating collaborative workplaces, and how their leadership styles impact their teams’ successes.
Applications for next year’s WWIG Leadership Seminar will open in the fall. Program costs not covered by tuition are funded by the WWIG Gala and generous sponsors, including the Wisconsin Counties Association and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Gail Sumi WWIG Scholarship Fund.
Founded in 1987, WWIG is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that recognizes and supports women by providing scholarships as well as educational and networking opportunities. WWIG and the La Follette School have offered this leadership seminar annually for over 20 years.