Acknowledgments
I have tremendous gratitude for all who have inspired my writing and research, those who helped bring this incredible project to the finish line, and those who cheered me on over the years when I needed you most.
To the strong, smart, and bold women of my family who had the greatest impact on my life: my mother, Diane Snyder; my godmother, Patty Webb-Horst; my sister, Jaime Snyder; my cousins Margaret McCarthy and Maureen Niesborella; my mother-in-law, Rena Kuhl; and my sister-in-law, Dana LaPorta. And to my dad, Doug Snyder; my grandfather, Clarence Webb; and my father-in-law, Bill Kuhl, who never waver in their love and support for their daughters and granddaughters.
To my husband, Alex, who is a true partner in every aspect of our lives. You won me over with your elaborate home-cooked meals, but your work ethic, your compassion, your rock-solid support for both of our dreams, and the unbelievable father and role model you are to our girls give me more joy than I could ever imagine possible.
It was a blessing that my book proposal made its way to the hands of Neal Maillet, my editor at Berrett-Koehler, who ignited the fire inside me to see this vision through to its fullest. Danielle Goodman is hands-down the most talented, committed, and sincere developmental editor on this planet; she helped me unleash my voice. All the BK staff and community members who gave me energy at my Author’s Day and through their role in this arduous process: Jeevan Sivasubramanian, Lasell Whipple, Sohayla Farman, Kristen Frantz, Chloe Wong, Mike Crowley, Susan Geraghty, Katie Sheehan, Johanna Vondeling, María Jesús Aguiló, David Marshall, Katie Sheehan, and Jennifer Kahnweiler (author of The Introverted Leader).
To the incredible team members who have made an impact since the inception of Why Millennials Matter. Florence Lee, you always find a way to bring my grand ideas to life through your talented and thoughtful design work. Caroline An, Matt Dubin, Brielle Jones, Allison Palacios, Gen Ste. Marie, Brianna Mercado, Vivian Peng, and Denise Chan: Your talents and contributions elevated the impact of our work to levels I couldn’t accomplish without you. Wendy Yalom, Elsa Isaac, and Dayna Spitz, and Michelle Goldblum, Alison Leipzig, and Hillary Weiss of Soul Creative have empowered me in our pursuit to help more women have the confidence and courage to stay and slay!
I am thrilled to share throughout this book the stories of women I admire and who have filled my bucket with inspiration and willpower: Sandra Altine, Amanda Apodaca, Susan Axelrod, Zoe Baris, Theresa Batiller, Ashley Batson, Michelle Carnahan, Stephanie Epstein, Frances Hesselbein, Heather Jackson, Laurie Kowalevsky, Kate Leiser, Carolyn Buck Luce, Chelsea Mohler, Vartika Prasad, Col. Diane Ryan, Jen Schubach, Kristen Shea, Tiffaine Stephens, and Laura Vang.
Female friendships are crucial in life, and I know how much these women have loved and supported me across significant moments in mine, so I am incredibly appreciative: Bekah Klipper, Denise Mondazzi Kane, Joy Robins, Carlene Greenidge (who is an incredible source of love and support to me and our entire family), Nikki Barker, Jen Haggerty, Nicole Lust, Elaina Filauro, Christian Nguyen, Holly Lindvall, Courtney McAlea, Dr. Nicole Nevadunsky, Rachael Toonder, Melissa Crandall, and Melanie Fried Walker.
To all of the courageous young women, leaders, and volunteers I have met through Girls Inc. of NYC, Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, Girls on the Run NYC, Step Up Women’s Network, Girls Leadership, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the fellows (both women and men) of the Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh.
To my University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) family over the years, who never stopped cheering me on: Eva Tansky Blum, Cindi Roth, Sam and Anne Zacharias, Bob and Maryjean Lovett, Keith Schaefer, former chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Audrey Murrell, Lisa Cherok, and Liz Adams.
I am fortunate to have found many mentors and role models who gave me the energy and runway to go after my big dreams. It’s my mission to ensure that more young women have this positive energy and bottomless support throughout their lives so that they too can dig their heels in. So, finally, thank you to the women who are leading and volunteering in organizations and groups that serve one another within corporations, communities, churches and other religious institutions, and schools. You are heroes, and the world would not be the same without you.