ABOUT US
WomenLead is women-led. Meet our leaders.
Our leadership includes Emily Giske, a champion for progressive causes with a proven track record advising winning campaigns at the local level and statewide, including the effort to flip the New York State Senate red-to-blue in 2018 and winning a supermajority in 2020. Brette McSweeney is the former president of Eleanor’s Legacy, the statewide women’s political organization in New York, and led the organization during the 2018 and 2020 cycles. Robin Brown has been a political advisor to local, state, and federal campaigns across the Northeast since 2008, helping flip many seats red to blue.
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Emily Giske
A lifelong New Yorker, Emily Giske has been named to City & State's annual “New York City Power 100”, “Albany Power 100”, and "Above & Beyond” lists, the Observer's inaugural “Power 80” list, and Crain’s New York Business’s “Notable LGBTQ Leaders & Executives". Emily has been a member of the Democratic National Committee since 2000 and has represented New York as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. She is a vice chair of the New York State Democratic Party. Emily previously served on the board of directors for Eleanor’s Legacy, working to elect pro-choice Democratic women to state and local office across New York. In 2018, Emily helped create the Eleanor’s Legacy’s Baker Project, which was instrumental in flipping the New York State Senate to Democratic control in 2018, leading to a Democratic supermajority in 2020.
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Robin Brown
Robin started out in politics on the 2008 Obama campaign, traveling throughout the Northeast working on events for all candidates on the Democratic ticket. Since then, she has worked on numerous political campaigns in New York, from upstate Congressional campaigns to NYC Council races partnering with nationwide unions and statewide non-profits. Recently she has helped pass Paid Family Leave Insurance and Ride-Sharing in the state budget working with political and advocacy groups.
Robin was raised in Buffalo, NY and is a graduate of the University of Georgia. She also serves on the board of Greater NYC for Change and WomenElect in NYC where she resides.
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Brette McSweeney
Brette McSweeney is the former president of Eleanor's Legacy, the statewide women's political organization working to elect pro-choice Democratic women to state and local office across New York. McSweeney grew the organization’s campaign schools, Innovation Council, and endorsement program, giving New York women the network to support them when they run and the resources they need to win. In 2017, McSweeney was a professional fellow of the American Council of Young Political Leaders.
PRESS
May 24, 2023 - WomenLead announces shift in focus to federal races leading up to 2024 election.