At the Leading Women Defined Summit in California, former Vice President Kamala Harris stepped onto the stage to warm applause and opened with a personal story from her early days in public service. She recalled the first time she addressed a skeptical crowd, her voice trembling under the weight of self-doubt. Fear nearly silenced her, she admitted—but instead, she chose to speak through it. “Courage,” she said, “isn’t the absence of doubt. It’s the decision to show up anyway.”
Looking out at a sea of women—entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and activists—Harris reminded them that every leader, no matter how seasoned, has faced that hush of uncertainty before finding her voice.
She painted vivid portraits of everyday resilience: a teacher transforming a failing classroom into a thriving haven of creativity; a small-business owner rebuilding after disaster; a community organizer standing firm in the face of injustice. In each story, Harris underscored the quiet acts of bravery that often go unseen—the moment someone asks a hard question, lifts up another, or speaks out when silence feels safer. “Courage is contagious,” she said, and the room seemed to exhale with recognition. Heads nodded. Eyes brightened. Many, remembering their own moments of daring.
Shifting to the power of community, Harris emphasized that no one rises alone. She urged attendees to build intentional networks—to mentor and be mentored, to celebrate each win and weather each loss as one. Recalling her own campaign journey, she spoke of leaning on a trusted circle of friends who reminded her of her purpose during the hardest days. “Ask yourself,” she said, “Who will remind me of my why when I lose sight of it?”
