On this International Women's Day, let's commit to a future where women's businesses are valued and supported equally. Because when we inspire inclusion, we don't just lift women; we elevate our entire society.

Diane Hessan is a dynamic business woman, author, influencer, and angel investor who I had the pleasure of meeting at a networking event in Boston many years ago. Since that time, she’s been an unofficial mentor for me, as well as an ongoing inspiration to women in tech and highly regarded Boston business leader. She sits on the Boards of numerous companies, including Panera Bread, and is currently CEO of Salient Ventures and has been engaged in a wide-ranging longitudinal study of the American voter as a columnist for The Boston Globe.

The power we have inside of us can go dormant sometimes. We forget what we are capable of until we have no other choice. The pandemic can be considered a bit of a restart on many levels - personally and professionally. It’s like going to college after high school - you have a chance to reinvent yourself and be whomever you’d like to be.