Spring is here! In this time of new beginnings, we're feeling extra grateful for the incredible women who help Step Up grow through every season.
Meet a few members on our Board of Directors who inspire us every day with their passion, leadership and dedication to empowering the next generation of women leaders.
Member Highlight
April Carr
Senior Director Innovation Platforms, PepsiCo
Q: How did you get involved with Step Up?
A: I had the honor of serving as a mentor and sharing some of my life experiences. It created honest and safe spaces where everyone could acknowledge that no one has all the answers, and that each girl has the Step Up family to help them navigate life’s journey together.
Q: Tell us about your mentor or a woman that inspires you.
A: The first woman who mentored me (outside of my family) was my first-grade teacher, with whom I maintained a relationship for over 40 years. She inspired children to strive for excellence, both as kids and adults, and she exemplified that commitment every day. She taught us that there was never a reason to doubt your abilities—only to tap into your unique brilliance and pursue what you were destined to do, becoming the person you were meant to be.
Q: Why do you believe mentorship is important?
A: Mentorship allows people to pour into others, often uncovering a “can do” spirit that might otherwise go unnoticed, unexplored, or unrealized.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our school and community partners?
A: Speak positivity into people’s lives because words, as much as actions, can leave a lasting impact. Make every encounter count, leaving each person or situation better than you found it. You can make a difference.
Andrya Smith
Partner, PwC
Q: How did you get involved with Step Up?
A: I was looking for an opportunity to join the board of a non-profit organization that aligned with my passion for mentoring girls and young women.
Q: Tell us about your mentor or a woman that inspires you.
A: I have had numerous mentors, both male and female, throughout my life and career. Each one has played an important role in helping me become the woman I am today. Mentors help you see your blind spots, offer guidance and advice with your best interests at heart, and challenge you to set and achieve ambitious goals. Being involved with Step Up is my opportunity to pay forward all that my mentors have done for me.
Q: Why do you believe mentorship is important?
A: Mentorship is important because it helps us realize our full potential and gives us the support we need to persevere through obstacles and challenges along the way.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our school and community partners?
A: Thank you for all that you do in support of Step Up!
Baaba Holland
CEO & Founder of The BHA
Q: How did you get involved with Step Up?
A: My sister introduced me to Step Up, and we attended an event together. From that event, I knew this was a community I wanted to be a part of.
Q: Tell us about your mentor or a woman that inspires you.
A: My mother has always been my greatest mentor. She led by example, showing me what it means to be strong, ambitious, and unwavering in the face of challenges. I also had a high school guidance counselor who saw potential in me, pushed me to pursue college, and helped me believe in myself. Both of them shaped who I am today.
Q: Why do you believe mentorship is important?
A: Mentorship is about opening doors—sometimes doors we don’t even know exist. It’s about having someone in your corner who sees your potential, challenges you, and reminds you of what you are capable of. No one succeeds alone, and having the right guidance can change everything.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our school and community partners?
A: We could not do this work without you. Your support, partnership, and belief in our mission make all the difference. Every person we mentor, every opportunity we create, and every success story we celebrate is because of this incredible community. Thank you for making an impact that will last for generations.
Beth Radichel
Partner, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
Q: How did you get involved with Step Up?
A: My company has had a longstanding relationship with Step Up! Two female mentors of mine served on the National Board before me and recommended me for the position. It was such an honor and proof that even when you're my age, mentors can be your greatest resources and cheerleaders.
Q: Tell us about your mentor or a woman that inspires you.
A: Perhaps it's because we just left our annual board retreat, but the other members of the Step Up board are incredibly inspirational to me! At first, I was very intimidated, thinking I wasn’t "good enough" to mingle with this group of super impressive women. But through their candor and genuine conversations, they’ve inspired me to be more confident in recognizing the value I bring to the table.
Q: Why do you believe mentorship is important?
A: Very rarely is there a road that hasn't been walked. Sure, we all have different backgrounds and challenges, but when you start talking to people, it’s amazing how often you have those "ah-ha" moments where you realize you’ve experienced similar hurdles. Even though our experiences are unique, the takeaways can be so similar, and there is such power in sharing those lessons learned.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our school and community partners?
A: Most of my life, I kept waiting for the moment when I had it all figured out. I’ll let you in on a secret—I still don’t! What I’ve learned is that it’s okay to not always be okay, to push through the uphill battles, to trust your gut, and to know that, deep down, everyone is sort of flailing through this crazy and wonderful life. Trust your gut, and don’t be intimidated if you sometimes feel like the least "together" person in the room.
Charity Johns
CEO, Illinois Café & Service Company
Q: How did you get involved with Step Up?
A: I was introduced to Step Up by a former board member and Step Up participant as I was looking for an opportunity to make an impact in a meaningful way, and she recommended Step Up. I am so very grateful that I am part of such an impactful organization.
Q: Tell us about your mentor or a woman that inspires you.
A: I never really had a mentor; however, I have had many people make a significant impact on my life. One woman I find inspiring is my daughter’s grandmother, Phyllis. She has overcome so many obstacles and has made so many sacrifices to allow for her children to find better lives for themselves. She gives unselfishly and can find joy in the simplest of things.
Q: Why do you believe mentorship is important?
A: I think everyone needs to have an opportunity to have someone (or multiple someones) in their corner to offer advice, provide perspective, listen, ask the questions, and coach along the way—lifting others up, providing support, and really being there when you need them. I find it rewarding to be both a mentor and a mentee. These relationships are essential as we define what success is in our lives.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our school and community partners?
A: We are grateful for the commitment and leadership that you provide for young women!
Claire Walters
Senior Vice President Human Resources, Private Health Management
Q: How did you get involved with Step Up?
A: A good friend of mine from college was involved with Step Up's South region board and introduced me to the organization on one of my visits to Dallas. I was immediately impressed by the mission and programming for young women. When Step Up set a goal to expand to Houston, I was more than excited to get involved!
Q: Tell us about your mentor or a woman that inspires you.
A: I've had so many meaningful mentors over the years—especially early in my career when I needed some pushing to get over some "imposter syndrome." But if I had to choose one woman who has inspired me the most, it would be my mother. She started working in the mailroom at a company and retired 35 years later as an SVP of Operations. She taught me from a young age that if you work hard and focus on what's important to you, you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Q: Why do you believe mentorship is important?
A: Real and true connection with other people drives so many opportunities. I am a sponge when it comes to soaking in advice and learning from others' experiences—and I hope to provide that from my own experiences as I connect with others. I think that in any mentor relationship, the bond and the advice always go both ways—we are constantly learning from each other to grow.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our school and community partners?
A: I think it is important to remember that you don't need to talk to someone on a weekly, monthly, or even annual basis for them to be there for you in times of change or need. If there is power and strength in a connection, you can reach out at any time to connect. In fact, I love connecting with prior classmates, colleagues, and friends.
Tamera M. Woodward
Vice President/ Associate General Counsel, AT&T
Q: How did you get involved with Step Up?
A: I attended an event in Dallas and was moved by the mission to become more engaged and do more. Note: I am not sure whether this was the Inspiration Awards or not, but it was an annual event with a silent auction.
Q: Tell us about your mentor or a woman that inspires you.
A: Shauna Johnson Clark, US Chair and Head of Labor & Employment at Norton Rose. Shauna is fierce and lives out loud while paving the way for women and girls as she climbs.
Q: Why do you believe mentorship is important?
A: We all need to know that our path is possible, and it helps to have a guide because many young girls, myself included, were the “first” in their families. Mentorship helps bridge the gap from possibility to reality.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our school and community partners?
A: We are living in uncertain times, and a lot of the progress we have made is being challenged and threatened. If ever there was a time to Step Up, this is it!
Closing the Confidence Gap
With Step Up CEO Delores Druilhet Morton
We're thrilled to share that Step Up CEO Delores Druilhet Morton is leading a brand new LinkedIn Learning course on Closing the Confidence Gap.
Take the course for free here (it only takes 15 minutes!) and commit to fighting and closing the confidence gap between men and women!
April is National Volunteer Month!
This month commit to making a difference in the lives of young women by becoming a Step Up mentor! Mentor teens (ages 14-18) in person at a high school in your city or mentor young adults (ages 18-29) virtually on Step Up's Mentoring App.
Is there someone at your school who would like to receive these monthly updates from Step Up? Contact the Director of Community Engagement, Maya Menon, at maya@suwn.org.
