“Any advice for women on being a leader?“
That’s the question we posed to prominent women in our community, including the 2025 class of the Marin Hall of Fame and leaders in the field of arts and culture. Here’s what they said.
Marin Women’s Hall of Fame 2025
Since 1987, the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame has recognized the contributions of women of distinction in the county, honoring and preserving the achievements of over 160 women to date.
Chantel Walker
CEO and managing partner, CWISER Ventures
“Leadership is a dynamic, ever-changing state that requires purpose and self-regulation. Self-awareness is the starting point of true leadership. Know your strengths, acknowledge your struggles, study the context, and understand your impact on others. From there, build circles of support, nurture mutual thriving, persist, and lead with intentionality, compassion, joy, and a results orientation.”
Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D.
Author and speaker, feminist leader, psychiatrist
“Pay attention to the inner calling that moves you to speak up, even when it seems risky.”
Judy Arnold
Retired Marin County District 5 supervisor
“Watching how far women have come since I started in the ’60s until now, the best advice I can give to women today on being a leader is to not act like you’re playing from behind. Do the work, be prepared and then know you deserve to be at the table.”
Susan Gilmore
President and CEO, North Bay Children’s Center
“Challenges and obstacles are inevitable, but they do not define me. I’ve learned to be both persistent yet adaptable — when one path is blocked, I find another way forward. To me, true leadership is about empowerment and passion. My mentors taught me the importance of investing in those around me by teaching, mentoring, nurturing and creating opportunities for growth. By lifting others as I rise, I strive to instill the next generation of women with confidence, trust, resilience and purpose.”
Socorro Romo
Executive director, West Marin Community Services
“Find the courage to fight for what you believe in. Base your leadership on your values. Lead with love and compassion and never give up!”
Leading Voices in Arts and Culture
Jenny Leung
Executive director of Chinese Culture Center SF
“My advice will be to lift up other women. Especially for women of color, we are taught there is a scarcity at the top, and that is not true. Support your fellow women leaders and build a supportive community to make change together.”
Jodi Roberts
Executive director, MarinMOCA
“In my role at MarinMOCA, I’ve learned that thinking beyond boundaries — both artistic and geographic — is essential for true community impact. Leadership isn’t about serving only those in your immediate vicinity; it’s about creating connections across our often-fragmented North Bay communities.
“As female leaders, we bring unique relational skills and practical vision to bridge these divides. In Marin County, where our cities often operate as islands, we must foster collaboration that transcends zip codes and municipal lines.
“Art provides this unifying platform. At a time of increasing social and political separation, cultural institutions can weave communities together. This is our mission: not just exhibiting art, but using it to fortify connections across our diverse North Bay neighborhoods, creating a more cohesive, vibrant region for all.”
Dr. Soyoung Lee
The Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum
“I have two guiding principles that can be applied to nearly every stage of leadership. First, speak your mind and be bold. Do not be shy about negotiating hard, being tenacious or being frank when the situation calls for it. Second, be strategic. Get very clear on your — or your team’s or organization’s — ultimate goal and how best to achieve it. Know when to go all in on the important things, and when to compromise or let things go in service of the larger goal.”
