Women’s Council Empowers the Next Generation
The Westmont Women’s Leadership Council, dedicated to educating, enriching and empowering women, held its annual luncheon with keynote speaker Anja Manuel, co-founder and principal, Rice, Hadley, Gates and Manuel, LLC and an author, former diplomat, speaker and sought-after adviser to Fortune 50 and Silicon Valley CEOs. Several hundred supporters attended the event on April 24 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.
“Each of us in this room understands in our own way the importance of support,” said Drew Parisi ’05 vice chair of the council. “Whether it came in the form of a mentor who believed in us, a teacher who challenged us, or a generous supporter who provided for us, someone somewhere took a chance on us, which helped shape our confidence, expanded our vision and showed us what’s possible. Today, we carry that responsibility forward.”
The event raised more than $51,000 to provide needed scholarships to female students so they can flourish in their future careers.
President Gayle D. Beebe shared how Anna Grotenhuis, who helped establish the council, has dedicated herself to empowering women and maximizing their God-given gifts. Grotenhuis appreciates the support she received from Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who left a lasting legacy of leadership and philanthropy.
“So today, our focus is on how we can do everything we can to encourage and support women as they aspire to great and noble causes while also celebrating the legacy of Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree,” Beebe said.
Following an emotional video, Beebe presented the prestigious Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree Spirit of Santa Barbara Award to Yvette Birch Giller and her mother, Sue Birch, for their extraordinary contributions to the community through their work with the Mosher Foundation, Giller as president and CEO and Birch as a trustee.
“Lady Ridley-Tree raised the bar for philanthropy in Santa Barbara, and she kept it elevated as a North Star for everyone dedicated to the health and vibrancy of our community,” Giller said.
“We’ll accept (this award) for all the women in the community volunteering so many hours and giving of themselves,” Birch said. “As I look around here at the smiling young faces of all the Westmont women students, I know they’ll be inspired by Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree’s spirit, and they’ll go on and become leaders in their own rights.”
“At its core, our mission is not only to open doors, but to cultivate a lasting network, one that equips young women to move forward with confidence, clarity and purpose,” said Sherry Nasseri ’01, a clinical psychologist and adjunct professor of psychology at Westmont who chairs the Women’s Leadership Council.
After Nasseri introduced Manuel, detailing her many accomplishments, Manuel said, “I want to say to our students out there, all the stuff that didn’t work out doesn’t end up on your resume. You guys will all do great.”
Manuel’s remarkable career spans diplomacy, law, investment, banking and global strategy. She said living abroad with her globally minded family set the stage for her work in international affairs. “I have grandfathers who fought on opposite sides of World War II — German and American — and I always thought that war is just the most stupid way to resolve conflicts,” she said to applause.
Her father, a German diplomat who worked for the U.S. equivalent of USAID, took the family to live in Pakistan near a refugee camp for Afghans fleeing the Soviet invasion. “When you see these conflicts and what’s going on in the headlines today, just always think to yourself that there are humans behind this who’re just trying to live a good life,” she said.
Manuel emphasized the importance of women serving in leadership roles, citing improved health and education outcomes when women comprise 30% of legislators.
She also touched on AI, expressing her concerns about its demand on electricity and cognitive surrender. “You have to learn ethics, creativity and critical thinking, and then we can use AI as a tool rather than a crutch,” she said.
Mya Brushey, a graduating senior majoring in cellular molecular biology and biochemistry with aspirations in community medicine, credits Westmont’s holistic formation and mentorship for refining her motivations and helping her understand success beyond outcomes.
“Westmont pushes us to think incredibly curiously,” she says. “I’m grateful that I’m in a place where my professors don’t just care that I get an A in the class, they want me to be curious and to love that I’m getting to understand the world in new ways through that curiosity.”