Name: Anne Herman
Occupation: Grant Writer
Place of work: Austin Partners in Education
Years in Austin: 8
Why did you join YWA?
I wanted to expand my network and grow professionally. It has been wonderful to meet like-minded young professionals who face similar challenges in and out of the workplace. Being able to discuss those challenges with a glass of wine in hand at the general meetings is a definite perk.
Tell something about yourself that most other members might not know.
I started riding horses when I was 6 years old. It was a huge part of my life growing up, and although it takes a back seat to that being-an-adult-and-having-a-career thing, I always find time in my week to hang out with and ride my horse, Coco. She keeps me sane.
What is one of your favorite personal stories or experiences about YWA?
I attended my first meeting in June 2014. I was nervous, as I often am, to walk into a room full of very poised and professional strangers. Every single woman was welcoming, sweet, and encouraging. They put me at ease immediately. I left that first meeting totally sold on joining YWA and feeling ready to take the next step in my career (and start running again). I leave almost every function that way now – standing tall and ready to take on the world at a run.
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who might that be and what would you ask?
My grandmother. We call her “Gogo” because she is always on the go, even at 90 years old. She fought for equal rights years before her peers, and she has created an example of tradition, inclusion, and philanthropy among our immediate and extended family. It’s really easy to know someone for years without actually getting to know them, and there is a lot I want to learn from Gogo.
