This Week at The After Party: Women Supporting Women

 🥂 Opening Toast 

“To the ones who hyped us up in rooms we weren’t in — thank you.”

Because real influence isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about lifting others when they’re not around to hear it.

Here’s the truth: women who sponsor and advocate for one another don’t just change individual careers, they shift entire ecosystems. 

The McKinsey & Company study, Women in the Workplace 2024, found that women are significantly less likely than men to have senior leaders advocate for them, which directly impacts promotions and pay equity. 

The report also highlights that for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 87 women are, and that gap widens even more for women of color.

And yet, when women do have advocates in their corner, the ripple effect is undeniable. 

Research from Catalyst shows that women with sponsors are 19–23% more likely to move up the leadership ladder. Think about that: one person championing your work in the right room can be the difference between stalled potential and exponential growth.

But it’s not just about boardrooms and corner offices. Sisterhood shapes culture at every level. 

Studies show that women-led companies outperform their peers in profitability and innovation, and diverse teams make better business decisions. None of this happens in isolation, it happens because women bring other women with them.

So here’s to the text messages that say, “You’ve got this.”
The introductions that start with, “You need to meet her.”
The names dropped in rooms where opportunities are handed out.

Because when women support women, entire generations rise.

💣 Truth Bomb

Community isn’t just nice-to-have, it’s the blueprint for survival and success. When women amplify each other, barriers break faster and ceilings rise higher.

For too long, we’ve been told a myth: that there’s only room for a few women at the top. That scarcity mindset breeds competition, comparison, and silence. 

But the reality is, when women advocate for women, everyone wins. 

Data proves it: companies with more women in leadership roles are more profitable, more innovative, and better at retaining talent. And women who have strong networks of other women are not only more likely to land senior positions, they’re also more likely to thrive once they’re there.

The takeaway? Sisterhood isn’t sentimental. It’s strategic. It’s about rewriting the old rules that pit us against one another, and choosing instead to rise together.

🔍 Ask Yourself

• Who’s one woman in my life I could advocate for this week?

• Am I showing up as a supporter when she’s not in the room?

• Do I treat another woman’s success as a threat, or as proof that it’s possible for me, too?

✍️ Challenge of The Week

Pick one woman in your orbit; a colleague, friend, peer, or even someone you admire from afar, and hype her up.

- Share her work on LinkedIn
- Send her name in for a speaking opportunity
- Or simply tell someone else why they should know about her.

Small actions create ripple effects.

📚 Want To Go Deeper?

Here are a couple of thought-provoking reads that reinforce this week’s theme:

1. 🔗 “Stronger Together: The Power of Women Supporting Women — Forbes: How women empowering and mentoring each other not only amplifies individual success but also elevates entire industries, communities, and future generations
   

2. 🔗 “Why Strong Female Bonds Propel Us Forward” - Girl Power Talk: Highlights how sisterhood is about having women in your corner who believe in you, push you forward, and help you recognize your own strength.

🪞 Mirror Talk

“There’s space for all of us to rise.”
Scarcity says success is a zero-sum game. But abundance says: when she shines, it lights the way for you too.

👑 The Guest List

Reese Witherspoon — Actress. Storyteller. Architect of sisterhood.

Reese Witherspoon isn’t just a household name, she’s a case study in reinvention, agency, and doing well by elevating others. 

Born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, she entered the entertainment world as a teen and has gone on to build a legacy well beyond box-office draws.

She first made her mark with roles in The Man in the Moon (1991) and gained broader recognition in the late ’90s with Cruel Intentions and Election. 

But her breakthrough blockbuster, and a role that would forever define her public persona, came with Legally Blonde in 2001, where she played Elle Woods, proving she could balance charm and smarts (and a killer wardrobe).

Over time, Reese navigated peaks and valleys. After commercial and critical hitches in the mid-2000s, she pivoted. 

She co-founded Type A Films, which later evolved into Hello Sunshine, her mission: to champion female-driven stories. Through Hello Sunshine, she’s produced Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, Little Fires Everywhere, Gone Girl, Where the Crawdads Sing, and more.

She also extended her impact beyond entertainment. Reese launched Reese’s Book Club, a platform that spotlights women-centered narratives and puts them into cultural conversation. 

She founded Draper James, a lifestyle brand inspired by her Southern roots, and has served on boards and in advocacy roles, including with the Children’s Defense Fund and the Avon Foundation, with long-standing commitments to women’s and children’s causes. 

Her accolades reflect both star power and substance: an Academy Award, an Emmy, two Golden Globes, and frequent placement on Time’s 100 Most Influential and Forbes’ Most Powerful Women lists. 

🔍 Want to Learn More About Reese?

📖 “Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits.” — In this book, Reese Witherspoon invites you into her world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm.

🎧 “How Reese Witherspoon Figured Out Who She Really Is,” — New York Times: This article profiles Reese Witherspoon’s journey from a young Hollywood actress to a powerful entertainment mogul.

 🎥 “Reese Witherspoon on turning impostor syndrome into confidence,” — ReThinking with Adam Grant: Reese talks to Adam about how she’s built confidence by facing her doubts head on and shares why acknowledging what she doesn’t know helped her found a company

 🎁 Party Favors

This week’s Party Favors spotlight women-led brands worth hyping.

📚 Try it! Spanx — Sara Blakely
We’re loving the Faux Leather Leggings, a cult favorite that combines comfort with confidence. Made with smoothing fabric and a contoured waistband, they’re perfect for work, play, or nights out, proving shapewear can be chic and empowering.

 👚 Buy it! The Lip Bar — Melissa Butler
Check out the Bawse Lady Liquid Matte Lipstick, the brand’s best-selling, bold red that flatters every skin tone. Vegan, cruelty-free, and long-lasting, it’s more than makeup, it’s a movement for inclusivity and self-expression.

🧘‍♀️ Use It! Stitch Fix — Katrina Lake
Discover Stitch Fix Freestyle, a personalized shopping experience powered by data and stylists. Unlike subscription boxes, you can instantly buy pieces curated just for you, making style effortless and confidence wearable.

📣 Last Call…

Before we turn the lights up...

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_{(Fellas, if The After Party isn’t quite your scene, that’s cool. But chances are, you know a woman who needs this energy. Be a hero, hit forward)}

Until next week,