Benaroya Hall the last two years. Three years ago, Kate and Nickie decided to create a nonprofit organization in order to extend their reach into the community, and Be Bold was official. Kate and Nickie decided to build a platform for their group around “Be Bold,” which was one of the global themes that year for International Women’s Day, a 108-year-old celebration sponsored by the United Nations. Lifting up women and driving gender parity forward are central to Kate’s passion, and she believes the way to do it is for women to support women and inspire one another. Be Bold is about many things, but one key element is to be a place where women can really celebrate each other and share their stories every day. “We are asking women to tell their bold stories. People make bold moves every single day, and each story is important because you realize you are not alone. The more we tell each other and lock arms to support one another, the better off we are going to be,” Kate says. She says that supporting one another has been the greatest life lesson she would share with other women because she has learned that working with other women and supporting each other produces the greatest impact. She shares story after story about women who have attended Be Bold over the last several years and how it has impacted their lives, from international visitors who have taken the vision home to raise awareness in their communities, to local women who have acted on their passion as a result of what they gleaned from the event. When asked about being a professional female in Seattle, Kate appreciates what a remarkable place this area is for professional females. Women run the City of Seattle, with the top five public service jobs held by women. However, she realizes there is still much more to do in the world of technology for women. “It is still incredibly difficult for women to raise money for a startup, and there is a disadvantage in tech with the population of women and women in leadership declining in big tech in our city.” Kate is dedicated to cultural change and pushing gender parity, and she lives this dedication with all of her work through Be Bold. She also serves as the board director for Girl Rising, a global campaign for girls’ education and empowerment.
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May 2019 | Bellevue Lifestyle
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