Breaking Barriers Before DEI Had a Name: A Career Forged in Resilience and Purpose

In today’s conversations about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), we often hear how these frameworks are reshaping workplaces, opening doors, and correcting longstanding inequities. But for many women of my generation, especially those who built careers in public service, transportation, infrastructure, and economic development, DEI as we know it simply didn’t exist.

And yet—we persisted. We succeeded. We helped shape and lead systems that were never originally designed with us in mind. We were and continue to be Trendsetters, Transformers and Trailblazers.

My own professional journey spans over four decades in the municipal sector, leading transportation and mobility initiatives, pioneering economic development strategies, and founding a consultancy to help communities thrive. Along the way, I’ve served in senior executive positions, helped communities achieve sustainability certification, advised entrepreneurs, and chaired boards that influence local policy. None of this came easy. I navigated industries and government spaces where women were often the exception, not the rule. But I was not deterred. Instead, I leaned into a personal compass of purpose, resilience, and community impact.

The Silent Struggle Before “Equity” Was Policy

When I began my career, there were no equity training courses, no inclusive leadership seminars, no HR departments mandating diverse hiring panels. Decisions were made in rooms where I was often the only woman—and sometimes the only person advocating for broader perspectives at all. Pay gaps were not discussed openly. Mentorship for women in leadership was sparse. You learned by doing, and by enduring.

Despite the obstacles, I rose through the ranks because of competence, persistence, and a deep-rooted belief in public service. But make no mistake—those achievements were in spite of systemic limitations, not because those systems were built to include women like me.

The absence of DEI frameworks didn't mean that bias didn't exist; it meant we had to carry the weight of navigating and challenging that bias every day without acknowledgment or structural support. There were no corporate playbooks on inclusive leadership, only grit, informal networks, and the drive to prove our worth again and again.

 A Brief History: Women as Economic Drivers

It’s easy to forget that it wasn’t long ago when women were barred from even the most basic economic freedoms. Consider this:

• 1920: The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote—just 105 years ago.

• 1963: The Equal Pay Act was signed into law. Still, today, women earn on average 84 cents for every dollar earned by men—and less for women of color.

• 1974: The Equal Credit Opportunity Act finally allowed women to apply for credit in their own names without a male co-signer.

• Today: Women own nearly 42% of all U.S. businesses, generating $1.9 trillion annually, according to the National Women’s Business Council. Women also make up 58% of the civilian labor force and are leading in higher education attainment.

In just over a generation, women have transformed from legal economic dependents to drivers of innovation, commerce, and governance. We are mayors, CEOs, senators, educators, engineers, and founders. In small towns and major cities, we are the bedrock of community transformation.

Women in Government and Small Business: A Force Multiplier

Having spent most of my career in local government and community development, I know firsthand the vital role women play in these spaces. In large cities, like Norwalk, Connecticut, where I served as Director of Transportation, Mobility and Parking – women are transforming communities, creating opportunities through mobility policies and operations.  In towns like Bethel, Connecticut—where I currently chair the Sustainable Bethel Commission—women are leading sustainability efforts, mentoring entrepreneurs, fostering cultural initiatives, and shaping inclusive public policy.

Women aren’t just contributors; we are architects of economic and civic vitality.

At the small business level, I’ve worked with women entrepreneurs through organizations like SCORE Western CT, the Women’s Business Development Council and the Global Summit of Women. These founders aren’t just creating income, they’re creating ecosystems: hiring locally, championing equity, and reinvesting in their communities. According to American Express’s 2024 State of Women-Owned Businesses report, women-owned businesses in the U.S. grew at double the rate of all businesses in the past five years.

Today’s DEI: A Welcome Evolution—But Not the Starting Point

Do I welcome today’s growing commitment to DEI? Absolutely. Initiatives that elevate underrepresented voices, encourage inclusive policymaking, and dismantle structural inequities are critical. But we must also honor the generation of women who advanced equity before it was institutionalized—who cracked the glass ceiling with little fanfare or protection.

In many ways, our work laid the foundation for the DEI infrastructure that exists now. We were the early architects of inclusion, often without recognition. And as we look ahead, we must ensure that today’s policies continue to push for real access, not just symbolic gestures.

Closing Reflections

My story is not unique—but that’s precisely the point. Thousands of women like me have shaped the trajectory of our local and national economies, quietly and persistently, without the benefit of a system designed to include us. We did it anyway.

So, as we celebrate the progress brought by DEI efforts today, let us not forget the shoulders they stand on. Women—past and present—are not only integral to economic success; we are economic success. Our leadership is not optional. It’s essential.

Let’s continue to work together, to be transformational, to be trailblazers - to ensure the next generations inherit systems that recognize their value from the start—not after the fact.

By Kathryn Hebert, Founder and CEO TPMConnect