Happy International Women's Day!

To celebrate International Women's Day, Operations Lead Jaymee Morgan asked CEO Katie Chaney ten questions:

• Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
• Women deserve to be celebrated daily - but it's wonderful to have a day to reflect on the power of being a woman.
• What benefits do you see by having women, either inside or outside of your business, in leadership positions? 
• As a business where all positions of power are currently filled by women - I can say, without a doubt, that having women at the helm is extremely exciting and a gift for our business. We have strong, caring, empathetic, pragmatic, goal-oriented women charting the path forward in our business. I’m proud. 
• What advice do you have for other women in your position or women who aim to be in your position one day?
• Trust yourself. Period.
• What are ways that you think women can/should support other women in your business or in outside organizations?
• Trust women. Period.
• What strategies do you utilize to ensure inclusion in the workplace?
• Giving a voice to women within our workplace is one step. Listening to that voice is the next one. While it can be hard to relinquish power and decision-making to others, I strive daily to ensure that women, as well as team members in different roles, all can collaborate and contribute to the greater vision (and… day to day inner workings) of Hester General Store. 
• What advice would you give your twenty year old self?
• To be kinder and more accepting of yourself - and enter your power. 
• What advice would you give young women that are following in the same footsteps as you, career-wise?
• There’s no straight path to get to where you want to go. Relishing experiences - saying yes to crazy ideas - will give you knowledge and experience for how to chart your own wild path one day. 
• What has been the most significant barrier in your career? Have you experienced any gender-related barriers?
• Of course! As a smart and motivated woman, I oftentimes felt like others tried to box me in, or make me feel “lesser than” because of my age, gender, and tenacity. 
• Did you have a female leader/mentor or a specific woman who inspired you?
• My mom - of course. And all of the women on my team who are straight up WARRIORS. I appreciate all of the women consultants who have helped me grow Hester General Store, the women who choose to shop at our location, and the women who have found inspiration, safety, and belonging within the Hester General Store brand. And - women who are struggling to make ends meet, who are single parenting, who are working their tooshes off to make their dreams come true, who are struggling to be seen, who are victims of domestic violence, who are fighting for the right to vote or earn living wages, who are singing or dancing or painting or flying airplanes or creating vaccinations or teaching our youth or guiding women in childbirth or who are birthing children or who are feeding people or writing books or mourning loss or experiencing postpartum or suffering from breast cancer or who are breathing their last breath. Women inspire me daily.