Female Leaders Speak About What They Might Have Done Differently

    How would you feel if someone were to ask you to stand before a roomful of women, look back on your career and confess what you might have done differently?
    On March 19, six carefully selected female leaders will answer that very question at a General Session of the American Association of University Women, Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette branch (AAUW-OML).
    In recruiting the six panelists, AAUW Program Chair and The Orinda Association Co-President Chris Laszcz-Davis chose effective, successful women leaders of all ages – including scientists, engineers, those in legal work and the liberal arts.
    “Furthermore,” she said, “the recent political decisions in the United States place extra responsibility on all of us to advocate properly and affirmatively.”
    Panel member Pat Rudebusch, co-owner of Orinda Books, was voted Citizen of the Year in 2012 for her volunteer work on behalf of Orinda schools. Prior to moving to California, she was the director of major gifts for PBS, where she worked with public television stations across the country to build endowments.
    Rudebusch’s advice to the coming generation of young women is “to be purposeful in your choices – both professionally and in volunteering. When we’re in school, it’s all too easy to think about the future through a narrow lens, which can lead to giving up on your dreams.”
    Leta McCollough Seletzky, a National Endowment for the Arts 2022 Creative Writing Fellow and the author of several books including “The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.” is a litigator-turned-essayist and memoirist.
    “If I could share any words with my younger self, I’d say, ‘Trust the timing of your life. Many of the things that mean most to me – relationships and personal development – came about in ways I never anticipated and couldn’t have planned. If you focus on purpose and intention, the rest will flow,” she said.
    Dr. Jamie Textor, diplomate of the College of Veterinary Surgeons, is a former owner and surgeon for the Diablo Equine Veterinary Service. Currently a board member at the Oakland Strokes Rowing Club and past president of the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club, Textor is much in demand as a speaker at global conferences.
    Katharine White, Esq., a managing attorney in a litigation support team at a top San Francisco law firm, provides procedural guidance for the firm’s litigation and trial department, as well as strategic guidance to optimize client outcomes and supplies. “I’m so excited to be a part of this wonderful event and am really looking forward to the discussion on such an important topic,” she said.
    Saira Pasha, associate director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs at AT&T, is responsible for several key functions within the organization. She was granted an AT&T Connection Award in 2023 for her significant contributions toward advancing critical California telecommunication policies.
    Dr. Jacalyn Buettner, a familiar face from “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight,” established Union Square Chiropractic over 35 years ago. She also travels with the Flying Doctors of America. A 30-year resident of Orinda, Buettner continues to support her community by serving on the Board of The Orinda Association.
     “If I could offer advice to my younger self and to the upcoming generation of young women, it would be this – embrace your uniqueness, trust your voice and cherish the support of family,” she said. “Every challenge is an opportunity for growth and every setback is a chance to redefine success on your own terms.”
    “Women Leaders – Life/Career Learnings: What We Valued Most and What We Might Have Changed – A Retrospective View” takes place at the Orinda Community Church from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19. For more information, contact oa@orindaassociation.org.