Seven years ago, I began my service to IWCA as vice president. Nine months later, I found myself unexpectedly thrust into leadership during a global pandemic. I could not have imagined then what the next seven years would teach me.

In the fall of 2020, when we gathered virtually for our first conference during the pandemic, we chose three words to guide us: Listen. Learn. Lead.

As I conclude my service as an officer of IWCA, I want to return to those words.

Listen. Listen actively, especially to those whose experiences and perspectives differ from your own. Sometimes the people who most need to be heard are the least likely to speak.

Learn. Learn about the challenges our members face, but also about their extraordinary resourcefulness, creativity, and resilience. Never assume that leadership means having all the answers.

Lead. Advocate for our members. Sometimes that means speaking loudly, writing letters, and taking public stands. Other times, it means quietly opening doors, shaping conversations, or helping someone else find their voice. Lead through crisis and through success, remembering that we serve all our members—not simply those who agree with us.

But after seven years, I would add a fourth word: Love.

I've learned that leadership isn't about having the right answer or always "being right." Certainty can become arrogance, and arrogance can divide us even when our intentions are good. Leadership requires compassion, generosity, and grace—even toward those who misunderstand us or challenge us. That doesn't mean abandoning our principles or avoiding difficult decisions. It means recognizing that the people with whom we disagree are no less deserving of our care and respect.

Sometimes the seeds we plant through understanding take years to bear fruit.

If these seven years have taught me anything, it is this: Leadership begins with listening, deepens through understanding, and finds its meaning in helping others know they matter.

I leave IWCA in Maggie's and Chris's capable hands, grateful for all we have accomplished together and eager to see what comes next.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you.

Sherry Wynn Perdue (your past past president)