Author: Ria Deshmukh

Ria Deshmukh is the digital media manager at RepresentWomen.

From Biden’s Cabinet to the Crisis Council: Isabel Guzman on AI, DEI, Elon Musk—and What Real Leadership Looks Like

Isabel Guzman previously served as the 27th administrator of the Small Business Administration under President Biden and was the fifth Latina woman to serve in the Cabinet. She cites serving in Biden’s Cabinet, which was majority-women and the most diverse Cabinet in U.S. history, as ‘humbling’ and an “honor.”

Since leaving the Biden administration, Guzman is now on the frontlines of corporate leadership, helping CEOs confront the reputational dangers of AI, DEI and disinformation. Guzman recently sat down with RepresentWomen’s digital media manager Ria Deshmukh to speak about her transformative journey through the public and private sectors. This is her first in-depth interview since finishing her tenure as the SBA administrator, providing a multifaceted perspective of life as a woman leader in public service and business development.

“The most critical moments in my career have been when I’ve taken myself out of my comfort zone.”

“Women need to continue to be bold about their worth and their value for inclusion.”

While Trump Sows Division, Women Leaders Chart a Path Forward for Democracy

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During the same week as the president’s address to Congress, RepresentWomen held our annual Democracy Solutions Summit. This solutions-oriented event allowed us to imagine what our democracy could look like with better policies and better representation. As the U.S. faces threats towards democracy, policy changes and civic participation are crucial. A healthy democracy is one where people of all backgrounds and perspectives can have a seat at the table.

Presidents’ Day and the Legacy of Exclusion: Why Women Still Struggle for the Oval Office

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Presidents’ Day often conjures images of our founding fathers, men whose legacies in history books portray them as heroic figures. Yet, these white men confined themselves to rooms of power, shutting the doors behind them and leaving the majority of society—women, marginalized groups and nonconforming individuals—without a seat at the table, effectively denying them power and influence.

Let us move forward with purpose, amplifying the voices of women, demanding equality and working toward a future where the presidency is no longer an unattainable dream but a reality.