We asked eight women making history in Texas in the arts, business, technology, innovation, education, military, and community to share with us their most meaningful achievements and milestones, as well as their advice for future trailblazing and history making women.

AUSTIN

Lauren Washington

Lauren Washington is the co-founder and CEO of Fundr, a platform that automates and removes bias from seed investing by creating portfolios of AI-vetted startups. Prior to this, Washington co-founded Black Women Talk Tech, the largest membership organization and only conference for Black women founders and KeepUp, a social listening platform. Her companies have won multiple awards including the world’s largest pitch competition, 43North and the Advanced Imaging Society’s Distinguished Leadership Award. She has been featured in The New York Times, Elle, Inc and Black Enterprise and has been listed as a top female entrepreneur in Essence Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and CIO Magazine among others.

Washington started her career as a special education teacher with Teach for America and went on to develop marketing and data strategy for over 100 global companies at InStyle Magazine, TVGuide Online and Omnicom Group.

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones: “I think the achievement that means the most to me is being able to sustain and thrive as an entrepreneur. It’s a bumpy road and there were many times when I wasn’t sure if I would make it, but with perseverance and luck, I’ve been able to live my dream.”

Advice for Future Trailblazers: “Don’t let fear hold you back. I’ve often had people tell me I’m fearless, and I’m not. I have the same fears and anxieties that everyone else does. The key is being able to push through those fears to do something that you really believe in. I think one easy way to do this is to take baby steps towards your goal. Google wasn’t built in a day. Create and hit small goals over and over, and before you know it, you’ll look back and be shocked at how far you’ve gone.” 

DALLAS

Mandy Price

Mandy Price is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as the CEO and co-founder of Kanarys, Inc.  Kanarys is a technology platform that fosters collaboration between companies and employees on DEI in the workplace. Kanarys allows individual contributors to anonymously rate, review and submit surveys on diversity and inclusion at their current and former employers. Data from submissions is analyzed through artificial intelligence and natural language processing, allowing partner companies to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing them and to build a more inclusive workplace culture. Kanarys has been covered by Good Morning America, Forbes, CNBC, AfroTech, Business Insider and HR.com and was recently selected to join the Google for Startups Accelerator: Black Founders class and the Unreasonable Future program. Price and her co-founder, Star Carter, were named two of Entrepreneur magazine’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women of 2020. Price was also recently named Dallas Startup Week’s 2020 Rising Entrepreneur.

Price’s interest in DEI began early in her career when she helped create the division of diversity and community engagement at the University of Texas as an undergrad. Price practiced law as a Harvard-educated attorney for over 12 years before leaving to co-found Kanarys. In 2017, Price received the “40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates” award from the National Bar Association and was selected as a “Best Lawyer in Dallas” by D Magazine.

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones: “I am extremely proud that I bet on myself and walked away from my career as an attorney to co-found Kanarys to build workplaces where everyone belongs. When I look back, this moment changed my life forever, and this has shaped me into the woman I am today - a woman who took a chance on myself to follow my passion and dedicate my life to fighting for inclusion and equity in the workplace. Taking this chance to follow my passion is one of my proudest moments.

Additionally, I regularly receive messages from employees of the companies we work with thanking me for creating a tool for their voice to be heard in the workplace. These messages are one of the highlights of the work we do because I know Kanarys is helping them feel less alone and more confident because there is a company dedicated to hearing them and creating solutions once and for all. Truly being seen is very powerful.

Another major milestone for me is having now raised $4.6 million in VC funding for Kanarys. It’s an unfortunate fact that Black women raise only 0.6 percent of VC funding, and I am now one of only 93 Black women who have raised over $1 million in funding. This disparity is unacceptable - we need more funding for Black women.”

Advice for Future Trailblazers: “I advise trailblazers to take care of their mental health and to give themselves the same empathy they show others. I believe we can accomplish all our dreams and goals, but we have to be gentle with ourselves along the way. Whatever they do, I advise them to never lose sight of their vision and mission. Things can begin to feel impossible at times as an entrepreneur, but if they keep their vision and mission top of mind, they will eventually reach a turning point.”

Tonya Holloway

Tonya Holloway has worked in a variety of jobs in the film, commercial and theatre industries as a freelancer for over 20 years. She is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Soul Rep Theatre Company, the longest running African-American theatre company in Dallas, which was established in 1996. In 2001, Holloway was nominated by the Dallas Theatre League for Best Director of a play (Purlie Victorious) and has won and been a finalist in several screenwriting competitions such as the Atlanta Film Festival, the Hollywood Black Film Festival, and the NYC African American Film Festival. Her completed film projects include two documentaries, one short film, two screenplays (features), and one TV pilot.

In 2006, 2007 and 2010 Holloway served as Scriptwriter for the NAACP National ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Awards Ceremony, an academics, visual and performing arts competition for African-American high school students. She has volunteered as an ACT-SO mentor since 1990. In 2019, Holloway served as Writing Consultant on the Amazon Prime series #Washed as well as Casting Director for season two, which premiered summer of 2020. She currently freelances as a writer, director, filmmaker and videographer for various projects throughout the Dallas Metroplex. Her stage adaptation of Virginia Hamilton’s book Her Stories, has not only been produced in Dallas but in Stuttgart, Germany (Kelley Theatre). The show received five nominations at The Toppers Awards (a mini "Tony" Awards ceremony for military installations across Europe), including Best Sound Design, Best Debut Performance, Best Ensemble, Best Play, and a Special Judges' Choice Awards for Best Original Music written by Holloway.

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones: “In 2020, I decided I wasn't going to take on any jobs that did not relate to the arts. For the first time, I was strictly relying on my craft as a source of income. Thus far, with the support of my family, I have successfully done just that, even during a pandemic. Through this effort, three projects I worked on received recognition at two film festivals: Denton Black Film Festival and SXSW.”

Advice for Future Trailblazers: “Look to God, not man, to illuminate your path and trust the process. Lift the bar according to your standards, not society's. Train and prepare for The Moment; be ready. And while you're carving your road, don't forget to help the next.”

HOUSTON

Carol Mims Galloway 

Carol Mims Galloway has maintained a lifelong commitment to education. She began her career with Texas Instruments, served as a representative for Southwestern Bell (AT&T) and worked as an organizer with the AFL-CIO. Galloway went on to serve as a teacher’s representative with the Houston Federation of Teachers. She served on the Houston Independent School District Board, a member of the Texas Education Agency Advisory Committee for Technology, a PTA president, and a member of the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) Education Committee. Expanding her commitment to education, Galloway was appointed to the National Commission for African American Education by U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee. 

A dedicated public servant, Galloway was the first African-American woman to represent Houston ISD District II as a Board of Trustee member and was the first African-American woman to represent the Houston City Council District B seat, which she held and served for three consecutive two-year terms. She uplifted her community and fought to provide her district with improved city services, paved streets, streetlights, and renovations. She represented the people and worked diligently to ensure the community was given equal access and resources to ensure the safety, well-being, and education of its citizens.

As mentee of A. Phillip Randolph, Galloway was elected the President of the NAACP Houston Branch for two terms and currently serves as Third Vice President. She is committed to improving the lives of others, leading non-profits, and civic organizations throughout the City of Houston. She received the UNCF Distinguished “Lou Rawls Parade of Stars” Leadership Award, the National NAACP Benjamin Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award and was selected as 1995 Top Lady of the Year.

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones: “As a native Houstonian, growing up in the segregated era, there were many changes of improvements, but not in the predominantly Black community. We were finally able to elect a Black on City Council of nine members. I always visit our Black Council Member about improvements in our disadvantaged community. He stated he needed help because his white colleagues weren’t addressing any of his concerns! I told him I will get some help. As secretary in my political party at the time, I immediately met with my Hispanic and white party chair, explained my idea concerning single member district council. They agreed to help, because this would benefit each ethnic group for representation. I had a one woman campaign for the petition to place on the ballot for the election, as well as educated the voters as to the importance of having representation from their communities. It passed overwhelmingly and we increased our City Council from nine to fourteen having majority minorities. We got our street lights, pave streets and many more improvements. It takes persistence, and always have a plan and solution for the situation. I’m most proud of improving the quality of education in the community I represented as Board Trustee. I was able to initiate the first dual language program for the students in an elementary school in my district. It was so rewarding to see the kindergarten and first graders speaking other languages! Research shows that younger students who are taught other languages, do better academically as well! ”

Advice for Future Trailblazers: “We must be silent before we can listen. We must listen before we can learn. We must learn before we can prepare. We must prepare before we can serve. We must serve before we can lead.” – William Arthur Ward

Dr. Judith Craven 

Judith L. Craven, M.D., was appointed to a six-year term on The University of Texas System Board of Regents by Governor Rick Perry in March 2001. During her tenure, Dr. Craven served as Chairman of the Student, Faculty, and Staff Campus Life Committee and was Regental representative to the Board for Lease of University Lands which oversaw the terms of lease of University lands for oil and gas exploration and development. Dr. Craven also served on the Task Force on Admissions, Tuition, and Financial Aid and has served as Chairman of the Special Committee on Minorities and Women.

Dr. Craven served as the president of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. She also served as vice president for multicultural affairs and dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, director of public health for the City of Houston, chief of Family Health Service for the City of Houston, and chief of Anesthesia at Riverside General Hospital. Dr. Craven has also served as professor of Public Health Administration and professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the U. T. Health Science Center – Houston, clinical assistant professor of Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and visiting professor of public health at Shanghai Medical University. Dr. Craven is a former member of the boards of directors at VALIC; A. H. Belo Corporation; Luby’s Cafeterias, Inc.; and SYSCO Corporation.

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones: “Serving others, particularly those from underserved, underrepresented, and marginalized communities who do not have the opportunity, platform nor resources to advocate for themselves, is my passion and has been my life’s work. In every role and at every stage of my career I have done my best to represent and offer the perspective of those who do not yet have a seat at the table. Many of my most impactful achievements and milestones did not result in prestigious awards or accolades. As a young teacher living in Cleveland, Ohio, I taught at-risk youth in the Cleveland night school program. It was a small act of service, but it had an incredible impact on their lives and ability to provide for themselves and their families. 

As President of United Way Texas Gulf Coast, I was honored to receive the United Way of America National Diversity Award. We achieved several ethnic and gender milestones during my tenure with United Way. Significant time and resources were dedicated to building a team comprised of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds and with different life experiences. It was important to me that minorities were not only represented, but also elevated to leadership positions in which they could offer the perspectives of and advocate for their communities. I am extremely proud that we created a workplace culture that encouraged every employee to come to work as his or her authentic self.”

Advice for Future Trailblazers: “My advice to future trailblazers and history makers is to have a defined list of non-negotiable priorities that you can use as guiding principles as you navigate through life. My priorities have always been faith, family, and everything else came last. I found that if my relationships with God and my family were in order, then everything else always had a way of working out. I also encourage all young women to be good stewards of their financial resources, so they are never forced to compromise or settle.”

Dr. LaShondra Jones 

Dr. LaShondra Jones is a Marine Corp Veteran, who served on active duty as a radio operator from 1994-1998. As she completed her doctoral research on Veterans in the justice system and the challenges faced post combat, she began serving as a Policy Associate during the 84th Texas Legislative Session. After the 84th session ended, she continued her advocacy by testifying on legislative bills for Texas Women Veterans. With a wealth of collegiate judicial academia and a heart of servant advocacy, Dr. Jones has supported Women Veterans and underserved populations both locally and nationally. One of her proudest moments in advocacy was House Bill 867, which created the Texas Women Veterans Program and her efforts for Senate Bill 805 which created Texas Women Veterans Day. Nonetheless, Dr. Jones through both her voluntarism and non-profit executive management background has supported hundreds of women Veterans through peer support, mental health coaching, financial resources, housing and most importantly, by being there.

Dr. Jones continues to work with elected officials on issues dealing with women Veterans and vulnerable populations in the community. She also works tirelessly each election to ensure that Veterans re-register voters. Currently she serves as Vice- Chairman of the armed Forces Committee of the Houston NAACP and is a member of the Women Marines Association. She continues to provide peer support groups to women Veterans through a program called WOVEN.

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones: “One of my greatest achievements is being a part of the implementation of Texas Women Veterans Day, which was passed during the 85th Texas Legislative Session. I set up a "quasi" command center with women calling legislatives offices, prepping women veterans for public testimony at the Capitol, etc.  I drove back and forth from Houston to Austin with other women veterans, knocking on doors of legislative officials, talking to whoever on staff would listen to us about the importance of getting this bill passed.  Once it passed, I chaired the first Houston celebration of Texas Women Veterans Day in 2018. It was held at Houston's City Hall which included a group of selected women veterans who were all over the age of 75, including a few in their 90's.  The goal was to recognize their trailblazing efforts during a time when women weren't really welcomed in the armed forces.  We wanted to "give them their flowers while they lived." One honoree, age 91,  passed just two days before the program (family still attended in her honor). Two others have passed away since then.  I am glad to have honored them when we did.  They expressed to me that they didn't think that anyone cared about their service, they soon realized that they paved the way for many of us women veterans who came behind them.  It is their shoulders that we stand on.  A proclamation was presented at City Hall and read aloud by Mayor Sylvester Turner.  The program was held on the first floor of City Hall immediately afterwards.  Yes, this was one of my greatest achievements/milestones.”

Advice for Future Trailblazers: “My advice to future Texas women trailblazers and history makers is to create a village because you'll need it.  You'll have the vision and the drive to get done what needs to get done but you can't do it alone.”

SAN ANTONIO

Dr. Adena Williams Loston

Dr. Adena Williams Loston serves as the 14th President of St. Philip's College, our nation’s only college to be federally designated as both a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution with three military base sites, four early college high schools and five P-Techs serving more than 13,000 students. In January, she was named one of the Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2021.

Dr. Loston strategic leadership accomplishments include receiving the 2018 Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence, the 2018 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the 2020 Texas Award-Next for Performance Excellence. She is also behind instituting Planning Budget and Assessment Cycles, Resource Allocation Processes, President’s Academy, Department Chair Academy, Good to Great Strategic Planning Process, establishing three Centers of Excellence; and provided oversight for $250 Million in new and renovated facilities construction. She possesses over 40 years of professional experience.

Dr. Loston public service includes serving as: Director of Education and Special Assistant for Suborbital and Special Orbital Projects Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility and Chief Education Officer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at its headquarters in Washington, DC, where she directed policy for $1.3 Billion and was responsible for the Educator Astronaut Program, the NASA Explorer Schools and the NASA Explorer Institutes. She has also served as President of San Jacinto College South, Executive Dean for the El Paso County Community College District, Dean for Santa Monica College (Calif.), Associate Professor at Georgia State University, Instructor at Arkansas State University, and instructor and supervisor for Houston Community College.

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones:

.1 Achieving the State of Texas Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence from the Quality Texas Foundation and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, both in 2018. 

2. Rebuilding the infrastructure of the campus community in order to provide adequate new facilities to match programmatic needs.  During my tenure we added  nine new buildings: Center for Health Professions; Welcome Center; Center for Learning Resources; E.L. Turbon Student Center; Tourism, Hospitality, and Culinary Arts Building; Health and Wellness Building; Bowden Building; Welding and Auto Body Building;  Good Samaritan Veterans Outreach and Transition Center; and renovated all other buildings on two campuses.  These investments have totaled over $250 Million in new construction and $150 Million in renovations as of to date.

Advice for Future Trailblazers: "I strongly believe that whatever your assignment is, it must be valued as a Mission assignment. If it passes through my hands, it must be appreciably better. You must approach each assignment as a missionary journey with lessons to be learned and a benefit to others!"

Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson

Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson is the 2020-2023 Poet Laureate of San Antonio, making her the first Black Poet Laureate of San Antonio. She serves as a Teaching Artist for Gemini Ink and an artist in residence with The Carver Community Cultural Center.  Her debut book is entitled, She Lives In Music (Flower Song Press, February 2020). She also has music available on all music streaming platforms. 

Most Meaningful Achievements and Milestones: “Elevated Melanin public art mural with Centro de Artes on Aug 5th 2020 and becoming the first Black Poet Laureate of SA 2020-2023.”

Advice for Future Trailblazers: “Don't get overwhelmed by the details, ask for help, pray, write things down and make a checklist, forgive yourself and drink your water.”