Sisterhood Spotlight

Virginia has always been at the heart of American history. As we prepare to commemorate 250 years of our nation’s founding, what aspects of Virginia’s legacy do you think are most important to highlight?

Virginia occupies a unique and critical place in American history—not merely because important events happened here, but because it is where foundational ideas of liberty, representative government, and civic engagement were first articulated and fiercely debated: America. Made in Virgina. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, highlighting Virginia’s legacy means recognizing the bravery, the risks, and the profound disagreements our founders navigated to establish a nation built on ideals rather than ethnicity or territory. It means honestly reflecting on the full complexity of our past, embracing stories of both courage and conflict, and recommitting ourselves to the foundational principles that continue to unite and inspire us as Americans.

Your journey—from secretary to CEO, from corporate boardrooms to national leadership—has been marked by resilience and bold decision-making. What are the key leadership lessons you've learned along the way, and how can women today apply those lessons in their own careers and communities?

Throughout my journey, I've learned that leadership is not about titles, positions, or power. True leadership challenges the status quo, runs toward problems, and serves as a catalyst to get those problems solved. Leaders recognize that the people closest to the issue are often best equipped to address it, and their job is to unlock that potential. Effective leaders demonstrate empathy, humility, and collaboration—they understand they can't do it alone and value the contributions of others. Leadership involves seeing possibilities clearly, remaining optimistic despite realistic challenges, and fostering human potential. It requires courage to confront criticism and resilience to withstand setbacks, always guided by strong character and the commitment to do what's right, even when it's difficult.

You’ve had an extraordinary career spanning business, politics, and philanthropy. How do you see these fields intersecting when it comes to preserving history and advancing opportunities for women, particularly as we look ahead to the next 250 years?

I've observed how business, politics, and philanthropy intersect effectively around shared values such as preserving our heritage and broadening opportunities for everyone. Businesses innovate, politics shapes policy and resource allocation, and philanthropy addresses critical needs, ensuring long-term impact. Together, these sectors can create environments that nurture education, leadership growth, and civic participation, forming a strong foundation for prosperity and advancement for generations to come.

You’ve been a strong advocate for leadership development and lifelong learning. Are there any books, organizations, or other resources that you would recommend for women looking to build their leadership skills, navigate challenges, or make an impact in their communities?

The best way to build your leadership skills is to start by finding a problem—any problem—in your community, your school, or your workplace, and dedicate yourself to solving it. Real leadership emerges not from formal training alone, but from rolling up your sleeves and tackling issues head-on. Through this process, you develop critical skills like problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and resilience. This practical, hands-on approach is where real leaders are formed, making a tangible difference in their communities and beyond.

About Carly

Carly Fiorina was recruited to Hewlett-Packard with a mission to transform the company from a laggard to a leader, becoming the first woman to lead a Fortune 50 company. During her tenure as Chair and CEO, Hewlett-Packard became the largest technology company in the world, innovation tripled, cash flow quadrupled, and revenue and profit growth accelerated.

Both government and the private sector have sought out her vast problem-solving, team-building, and leadership experience. She has advised the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security. She founded Carly Fiorina Enterprises to bring her expertise to private sector teams, and the Unlocking Potential Foundation to allow those in the social sector to benefit from her experience. She is the author of three best-selling books on leadership for general audiences, as well as a weekly LinkedIn newsletter with over 500,000 subscribers. She is a frequent speaker to teams and executives of many industries all over the world.

Carly believes that citizens and leaders in civil society have an important role and an enormous opportunity to drive positive change. In 2015, Carly launched a campaign for President. Americans came to know Carly as a clear-eyed, direct leader capable of actually solving problems and delivering results.

She is a member of the newly-formed American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy, which is focused on those actions necessary to improve citizens’ confidence in American elections. She serves as the founding visionary and Executive Chair of The Williamsburg Institute, where history-makers meet. She also serves on the Board of Visitors for James Madison University.

As a student of history and philosophy at Stanford University, Carly first began to appreciate the power of ideas to drive change and the impact of history on the present and future. She believes that a deeper understanding of our nation’s full history, as well as the ideas upon which America was founded is particularly important during the current climate of division, discord, and political dysfunction. She serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as well as the National Honorary Chair of the Virginia 250 Commission. In both roles, she is focused on ensuring that our nation’s founding is broadly understood, accurately portrayed, and commemorated in an inclusive, accessible way, particularly as we approach the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026.

Developed and honed throughout her experience over decades and around the globe, from the bottom of the ladder to the very top, from the private to the public to the social sector, Carly approaches each challenge with three core beliefs: every individual has more potential than they realize; people closest to the problem know best how to solve it; and the highest calling of leadership is to unlock potential in others and work with them to solve problems and change things for the better. Putting those beliefs to work within the criminal justice system, she is the founder and Chair of Pathway to Promise, an organization that works with justice-involved youth so they can change their world.

She and her husband Frank have been married for almost forty years. They live in Lorton, Virginia, where they are both active members of the community and support numerous local charitable causes. Their daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters live nearby.