Last month, Women's Public Leadership Network (WPLN) hosted a three-part virtual training series, How to Lead in Local Office: Effective Leadership Beyond Election Day, designed for women recently elected to local office or who want to get started in their communities. See highlights from each session below!

Building Your Brand

WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez and Virginia Conservative Women’s Coalition Founder Julianne Szyper opened the series with a session on personal branding, reminding participants that a strong brand starts long before you pick a logo or color palette. Know your "why" first — it's the foundation everything else is built on.

Key Takeaway: You are your brand, and it must be authentic to the kind of leader you want to be.

Robert's Rules of Order

In our second session, we walked participants through the essentials of Robert's Rules of Order, the procedural framework that governs most public meetings.

Key Takeaway: You don't need to memorize every rule, but you should never walk into a meeting without knowing what you want to accomplish.

Building Your Agenda

Larissa guided participants through the steps of setting a focused, realistic agenda before taking office, from researching the jurisdiction of your seat to talking with mentors about what is and isn't achievable. She advised women leaders to be thoughtful about campaign promises and once elected, stay realistic about what can be achieved within the system.

Key Takeaway: A strong agenda isn't your full policy platform. It's your north star when you're being lobbied, stretched thin, or asked to take a position on something outside your lane.

Managing the Stress of Public Office

For this session, Larissa was joined by Houston City Council Member Mary Nan Huffman, who shared firsthand strategies for balancing public office with work and home life. Her top tip: lean on staff to manage your calendar and use tools like "schedule send" to protect your personal time without falling behind.

Key Takeaway: Proactively managing your schedule and remember that energy isn't a luxury. It's what allows you to show up and lead effectively for the long haul.

Your Communications Plan

This session covered how to build a communications strategy that is grounded in your agenda and consistent across every platform, including practical guidance on social media, how to build trust with local media, and crisis communications. For crisis communications, remember these three tips: respond quickly (but accurately), stick to the facts, and never communicate from an emotional place.

Key Takeaway: When it comes to public communications, the five rules are simple: be consistent, be accessible, be disciplined, be respectful, and be intentional.

Connecting with Your Constituents & Media Strategy

In the final session, Larissa was joined by Carlsbad City Council Member Melanie Burkholder, who shared how she keeps constituents engaged through site visits, town halls, and creative community events. For site visits specifically: schedule with enough lead time, bring a staffer, have a thank-you card ready for your host, and always take pictures.

Key Takeaway: View your constituents as stakeholders, not just clients, and remember that trust is built through responsiveness, not perfection.

If you're considering a run for office, remember that representation matters. Your unique perspective and lived experience can inspire others and bring new voices into the political process. WPLN is here to help you get there! Explore free candidate training resources on our website and check out our upcoming events where you can register for virtual and in-person programs and connect with a national network of women leaders.

And if you missed this training, don't worry! We'll be adding new content and resources to our platform throughout the year, so stay tuned for more to come.