Chancellor Linda Katehi: Janet Napolitano Talks About Her Story at Sacramento Women’s Leadership Luncheon

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a luncheon meeting of a Sacramento women’s group known as “She Shares” that featured UC President Janet Napolitano as the keynote speaker. At the luncheon, President Napolitano shared her personal story as the first woman in many leadership roles, including her current one as President of the University of California. She talked about a wide range of influences, including the willingness to take risk and the importance of forgiving yourself when you make a mistake. She also stressed the value of having good mentors and role models. 

In Photo: Chancellor Linda Katehi with President Janet Napolitano and UC Davis colleagues

In listening to Janet’s talk, I was reminded of the times that I have been able to share my story, including at “She Shares”, as a woman in higher education. Like Janet, I too am a big believer in mentorship and supporting our students so they feel empowered and supported by faculty and leaders on campus. In doing so, we are giving the next generation of leaders the necessary tools and foundation to go out into the world and be trailblazers in industry, higher education and public service. 

Janet pointed out that many Californians don’t recognize the treasure that the University of California is. In fact, she said that when she was Governor of Arizona, she would have given anything to have an institution like the University of California, which she firmly believes has been a key factor in the vitality of California’s economy. Her fresh perspective is an important reminder about the value of UC, including the importance of supporting our students, so that they can get the most out of their time at UC and find success after graduation as well.

Linda Katehi, Chancellor, University of California, Davis

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