Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is excited to continue our podcast series, “Tips From The Trail,” hosted by WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez, where we explore the path to political office, from the decision to run to election day. 

This month, we are excited to feature special guest Valerie Dowling, Director of the Women’s Democracy Network at the International Republican Institute, as well as Vice Chair of WPLN’s Board of Directors, on the topic of The Confidence Gap.

The Confidence Gap refers to the research that shows that women tend to be less self-assured than men, and that in order to succeed, “confidence matters just as much as competence.” While it is not the only barrier to why we don’t see more women in politics, it is a critical step to understanding how to support women who are stepping up to run and setting them up for success as they move into decision-making roles.

Whether you’re a stay at home mom, working professional, or serving in elected office, the Confidence Gap can affect woman at every level of leadership. What we’ve found is that most women looking to run already inherently have the skills needed to effectively lead: the ability to multitask, decision-making, and staying organized. They have the competence, but they may struggle to find the confidence they need to take that first step.

Globally, we are seeing women increasingly rise to executive leadership positions, like prime minister and president. “I think we’re making a lot of progress,” said Valerie, “It’s becoming more normal to see women in these spaces. There’s power in that alone.” However, we still have a lot of room to grow in the United States at achieving the same level of representation for women in its highest offices.

Fortunately, numerous resources exist to support aspiring women leaders. Dr. Margie Warrell's book, The Courage Gap details five steps to braver action and is a great resource for women considering leadership. WPLN provides training and education, including an extensive online video training database. WPLN also hosts in-person events, such as our annual National Summit, to further engage women in the political process through networking, skills-building, and inspiring panels.

We can't get politics right if we don’t have a diverse group of women and men involved in the decision-making process. We just need more women to run.

Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

View previous episodes on our website.

MORE ABOUT THE GUEST: Valerie Dowling has worked in the political process from grassroots campaigns to the White House. In 2016, she joined the International Republican Institute as Director of the Women’s Democracy Network where she will continue to work to increase women’s political participation, leadership and representation in elected office globally. Previously, Valerie worked at the Republican National Committee in the Office of the Co-Chairman as the Director of Women's Programs. She has also served as the Pennsylvania Coalitions Director with the Romney for President Campaign and Political Director for the National Federation of Republican Women. Valerie also worked in the Bush Administration in Mrs. Bush’s Projects and Policy Office, Presidential Correspondence, and Intergovernmental Affairs. Valerie has worked on several state and federal campaigns in the state of South Carolina. She is a proud graduate of Converse College. She lives in Alexandria, VA.