In Roseville, Prominent Local Women Offer Advice On Leadership

Mentors and supportive spouses are among the people who can help you become a leader.

That was part of the message that three locally prominent women shared Tuesday night at a forum of the Roseville-Maplewood-Falcon Heights chapter of the Minnesota League of Women Voters (LWV).

The three-Rep. Mindy Greiling, District 623 School Board member Kitty Gogins and LWV state executive director Laura Wang-shared their personal journeys to leadership. 

Gogins and Greiling are both Roseville residents; Wang is a long-time member of the LWV. Their presentations focused on how women have become leaders, what role the LWV played in their success and what advice they have for future women leaders.

All three speakers strongly encouraged the group to take more action in government and to get young people involved in government. The speakers gave the group many ideas of how to go about those tasks.

“It's about the action,” Gogins said about involving the young people. “How do you find an issue that's important to them.”

The speakers mentioned that a topic such as gay marriage can draw young people. The LWV, though non-partisan, favors gay marriage.

Gogins told her stories of her ups and downs in the corporate world and government. She also talked about her involvement with the LWV.

“Leadership is raising a person to higher sights,” Gogins said.

Meanwhile, Greiling also shared her experiences and thoughts. She is the ranking DFLer on the Education Finance Division of the House Education Committee and she has been serving in the State Legislature since 1992.

Greiling also has been a member of the LWV. She sees the importance of elected officials responding to their constituents.

“I try to follow that as a legislator,” Greiling said. “It will come back to bite you if you don't.”

Wang said she became involved in the LWV when she was a stay-at-home mother. In her time with the LWV, she responded to numerous invitations tp get involved with the grassroots organization. She also recalled that mentors in her life influenced her journey in leadership.

Wang said her father told her, “bravery is doing what needs to be done even when it terrifies you.”

She added that leadership can be summed up as, “I see something has to be done, and I'm the person to do it.”

All three of the women said their husbands have been been significant supporters in their leadership journeys.

The LWV exists as a non-partisan political organization, and it encourages educated and active involvement in government. LWV has been around since 1920.