Championing Women’s Leadership: Why I Serve on the Women’s ERG
By Todd Heinecke, Senior Vice President of Operations
When I was asked to serve on the steering committee for FORevHER Y: Women of Influence, I didn’t hesitate. As a husband, a father of two sons, and a leader in an organization where 70% of our staff are women, I recognize the importance of creating space for women to lead, grow, and thrive.
FORevHER Y is our Women’s Employee Resource Group, created to support and advance women in leadership at the Y. It provides a space for women to connect, share experiences, and develop both personally and professionally. While its focus is on empowering women, it also welcomes male allies who want to listen, learn, and champion gender equity. The goal is simple: to foster an environment where all employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to lead.
The Y has long been a place that lifts up strong leaders, and I’m proud that two-thirds of our C-suite is female. That representation matters. It sends a message to the next generation of leaders, both women and men, that leadership isn’t about gender, it’s about impact. But representation alone isn’t enough. We have to be intentional about ensuring that women have the support and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Serving on this committee gives me the opportunity to not only support my colleagues but also challenge myself to be a stronger advocate for equity in leadership. I want my sons to grow up in a world where leadership is defined by capability, not outdated expectations. I want them to see strong women in leadership and strong men who champion them. That starts with the work we do today by creating environments where everyone can thrive.
To the women in our Y family, your leadership makes us stronger. And to the men reading this, supporting women in leadership isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes our teams, our communities, and our organization better. I’m honored to be part of this work and hope many of you will join us in lifting each other up.
