“You can always tell who the strong women are. They are the ones
building one another up rather than tearing each other down.” – Anonymous

This month, in addition to celebrating Woolpert leaders for Women’s History Month, we want to spotlight great women leadership in general and how strong women actively help each other succeed. One outstanding example of this is The Smart Girls Literary and Drinking Society, which Woolpert Roads and Bridges Market Director Judi Craig affectionately refers to as her “book club with no books.”

This group of about 10 powerful, professional women have made an amazing difference in the Greater Cincinnati area. They have been gathering for roughly 15 years to candidly discuss career and personal issues in support of each other, the region and the next generation of women leaders. “We are not competitors, we are collaborators,” Urban Fast Forward Principal Kathleen Norris said. “Now what we need to do is figure out how to make the game better and create a climate in which the women who come after us can have an equal chance.”

Five of these women recently sat down to talk to us about how this group came about and convey the immense value this positive network provides. These women include Craig, Norris, Xavier University CBI Director Liz Blume, Sibcy Cline Senior Sales VP and former Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls, and The Catalytic Fund President and CEO Jeanne Schroer.