Melissa Ballard, politician, pianist, and Advisory Board member extraordinaire, has embraced life with an adventurous spirit and committed early on to be a part of the solution.  For Melissa, this means using her voice as Utah House Representative to speak up for Utah and speak out for her constituents, often on the national level on issues such as education funding transparency, water usage, and air quality. In fact, she has worked extensively across state lines to connect hydrogen producers and manufacturers with consumers and touts Utah as the hydrogen hub of the crossroads of the West for retail and wholesale distribution.  Listen in to hear how Melissa is collaborating on big ideas, bringing awareness to important legislative issues, and connecting people and resources that build a better Utah for generations to come!

 Listen to We HEAR Her: 

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Sui Lang Panoke, Zions Bank Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and founder of Rethink International, Rethink Tank, and Women Politics Media, was born and raised in Utah but took the leap early in her career to intentionally immerse herself in what she did not see here – adequate representation of women that shared her perspective. And, as it turns out, she found what she was looking for while living on Capitol Hill for 13 years. The experience was life-changing; for the first time, she saw women who talked like her, looked like her, and thought like her and this solidarity resulted in an unmatched layer of confidence that has propelled her successful craft. Listen in to hear the amazing ways that Sui Lang is welcoming allies to the table and starting conversations that tackle big issues around unconscious bias and creating inclusive cultures in the workplace. Thank you, Sui Lang, for challenging us to recognize it, talk about it, and invest in it - because what we do know is that Utah women care far more about making an impact than just making it!

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To learn more about Women Who Succeed, visit: https://www.womenwhosucceed.org 

Women Who Succeed is a program of Success in Education. 



Learn more about Success in Education here: https://sieutah.org/

Shima Baradaran Baughman, Associate Dean of Faculty Research & Development and Professor of Law, had to learn her important life lessons in the hardest of ways. Growing up in worn-torn Iran, the daughter of a neurosurgeon who single-parented while their mother was an imprisoned political activist, Shima saw the example that sacrifice, hard work, and advocacy would lead her to success. Listen in to hear how Shima went from a 2nd grader in California who spoke no English to the successful mother, mentor, and published author carrying her mother’s torch for the disadvantaged.

Listen to We HEAR Her: 
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/wehearher/ 
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gF5UkG... 



Follow Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwsutah/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wome... 


To learn more about Women Who Succeed, visit: https://www.womenwhosucceed.org 
Women Who Succeed is a program of Success in Education. 


Learn more about Success in Education here: https://sieutah.org/

Salt Lake County Health Department, State Epidemiology, Brown University, Women in Leadership 

Dr. Angela Dunn, Executive Director & Medical Director for the Salt Lake County Health Department and former State Epidemiologist, has been a dedicated servant leader in Utah’s fight against the COVID 19 pandemic. A collegiate athlete and graduate of Brown University, Angela often leverages the work ethic and leadership skills she learned on the court to navigate her way forward. Listen in to hear how Angela has successfully played a supportive role to her two sons and our community by always meeting people where they are at and finding where she can best influence progress. Thank you, Dr. Dunn, for using your voice to keep Utahns safe and informed during such a critical time! 

Emily Bell McCormick, an editor for KSL Studio 5’s “Smarter” series and founder of The Policy Project, is the voice that Utah is listening to when it comes to women’s issues and social equity. With a love of words and a colorful experience in communications, Emily has leveraged her skill and passion to serve as a changemaker for period poverty. First lobbying to successfully eliminate our state sales tax on menstrual products and most recently rallying to monumentally pass HB162 putting free period products in all Utah schools – Emily is moving mountains in Utah – period! Listen in to hear how Emily created the period movement and rallied her team in pink to immediately benefit 330,000 girls statewide in its first year! 

Listen to We HEAR Her: 

RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/wehearher/ 
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gF5UkG... 


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To learn more about Women Who Succeed, visit: https://www.womenwhosucceed.org 

Women Who Succeed is a program of Success in Education. 



Learn more about Success in Education here: https://sieutah.org/

Neylan McBaine, Owner of Duet Partner and women’s activist, grew up in New York City the daughter of a professional opera singer and Wall Street lawyer. It is this unique upbringing, coupled with the influence of several dynamic female role models, that inspired Neylan to take on Better Days 2020, a four-year project to unearth and celebrate the stellar leadership that Utah women provided in the quest for the 19th Amendment, giving our nation’s women the right to vote! Listen in to hear Neylan speak about what has shaped her, the challenges her three daughters are facing in today’s social and geopolitical climate, and what she uncovered about the spirit of Utah women.

Listen to We HEAR Her: 
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/wehearher/ 
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gF5UkG... 


Follow Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwsutah/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wome... 


To learn more about Women Who Succeed, visit: https://www.womenwhosucceed.org 

Women Who Succeed is a program of Success in Education. 

Learn more about Success in Education here: https://sieutah.org/

Karen Rodriguez La Paz, Director of DEI at NBCU Telemundo and Founder of Code in Color, is a Utah transplant from New York City, and it did not take long for her to call this home! Karen originally fell in love with the kindness and sense of community that she found in Utahns and has parlayed these qualities with her talent in communications and her passion for Latina activation to cultivate and retain diversity in the corporate workplace. Listen in to hear how one simple act of kindness landed her on Season 2 Episode 3 of Netflix’s The Kindness Diaries and was the springboard to Karen’s dream of creating a space for black and brown young adults to access tech education! 

Listen to We HEAR Her: 
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/wehearher/ 
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gF5UkG... 


Follow Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwsutah/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wome... 


To learn more about Women Who Succeed, visit: https://www.womenwhosucceed.org 

Women Who Succeed is a program of Success in Education. 

Learn more about Success in Education here: https://sieutah.org/

Scott Anderson, President and CEO of Zions Bank, and Sui Lang Panoke, Zions Senior VP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are two powerhouses that ARE the change Utah is ready to embrace! They share several common threads – championing inclusivity and a passion for building equitable partnerships – and together they are serving as our examples of how men and women work together to create space and leverage uniqueness that leads us to better decisions, stronger organizations, and ultimately dynamic and resilient communities. Listen in to hear these Utah icons talk about the evolution of women in the economy and the media, the critical nature of role models and representation, and the importance of male allyship.  Many know Scott and Sui Lang by name and reputation, but this is your chance to hear the ‘why’ behind the fire that they have started for us! 

Salt Lake Community College, Higher Education, Religion, Social Justice 

Gina Alfred, Salt Lake Community College Coordinator of Student Affairs and President of the Staff Association, has truly found her purpose and home in Utah. Also ordained as a Pastor, Gina first found her place in religion, and later her voice for people; specifically, for those that are underrepresented and marginalized – after all, social injustice really ruffles her feathers! Listen in to hear Gina and Bev Uipi, Millcreek City Councilwoman, visit about women of color, culture shock in Utah, and finding your calling.  

Education, Love Day Consulting, Woman of Color 

Michelle Love-Day, Founder of RISE Academy and Love-Day Educational Consulting and Jordan School District Language & Culture Department Consultant, has been a student since she was growing up in Ohio as the daughter of a teacher and coach.  Education is what was valued, what gave her opportunity, and what was ultimately the springboard to her career and passion.  Listen in to hear Michelle’s enthusiasm for ensuring that all students have a rich and equitable educational environment and a champion who believes in their abilities!