What Getting Off The Sidelines Means to Sam Bennett

Please welcome She Should Run President & CEO Siobhan "Sam" Bennett

 

What does getting off the sidelines mean to you?

Getting off the sidelines to me means helping to eliminate the barriers that keep women from being fully engaged as leaders in our nation. 

Though research shows that when women run for office – all things being equal – they win at equal rates to men – the U.S. is ranked 87th in the world in the number of women in elected office.  Why? From their concerns about how the media will treat them to their simply not being asked – women just don’t consider a run for office.  That must change.  Without women at the decision making table in every sector – from politics to corporate board rooms – our nation will continue to slip in global rankings in everything from education to health care.  That’s why we renamed our foundation “She Should Run” and why we are focused on eliminating barriers – from making sure women in historic numbers are asked to consider a run for office www.SheShouldRun.org to fighting media sexism against women www.Nameitchangeit.org. Women in leadership is essential to our nation’s long term prospects. 

What was the one moment or experience that inspired you to get off the sidelines and how has it led you to where you are now? 

Though I had been extremely engaged in my community – from serving as PTA President to starting a student led construction company that continues to renovate our historic high school to launching a statewide community improvement effort – I never once thought of running for elected office. But then I was approached by the Republican President of our local Chamber of Commerce and one of the biggest businessmen in our region and in that same week by the Chair of our county Democratic party and the highest ranking elected Democratic woman in our region –Democrats and Republicans asking me to consider running for Mayor of our city, the third largest city in PA.  Because I was asked multiple times by individuals I respected and trusted, I ran and lost by only 42 votes against a 26 year State Senator.  Soon after I became the Chair of our city’s Democratic Party, later ran for U.S. Congress (PA-15) and now have the privilege of leading this storied national organization focused on dramatically increasing the number of women in elected office.  Bottom line – I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t been asked.  Asking women of talent to run, even if they have never once considered a run – is urgently necessary www.sheshouldrun.org.