Anna Beth Gorman
Executive Director, Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Hometown: Texarkana raised/currently reside in North Little Rock
Briefly describe your role: As the Executive Director I champion the organization as the leading advocate for women and girls economic advancement in our state.
Q: Is what you’re doing now what you always pictured you would do?
A: I always wanted to help people, and when you lift a woman up, you lift up her family and her community.
Q: What do you see as the greatest challenges for women in your chosen industry? What are the greatest opportunities?
A: Women continue to fall behind because of historical and cultural disadvantages, however the current economic climate has brought these struggles to mainstream conversations and I am inspired by the momentum to create opportunities for women today that will improve our whole society.
Q: Who has inspired you in your life/career?
A: I constantly seek inspiration in the lived experience of people around me, therefore I try my best to meet people who are different from me, who are working toward different goals, engaged in efforts that are unlike mine. In our differences I learn so much, in our hopes and dreams I find shared values.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring professional?
A: Appreciate every aspect of a job or project, even in the mundane there is opportunity to grow professionally. Know your values and understand the values of the organization/company you are aspiring to work for. Are they aligned?
Q: What’s been your secret to success?
A: My desire to be an agent of change. I don’t attempt to speak for all women and girls, my goal rather is to lift up their unique voices and create awareness and build empathy for the particular challenges that they continue to face.
