Dear Future Daughter:

Dear Future Daughter,

For the longest time I didn’t want you because you are going to see and experience a world that is unfair to you.

I live in a world where I am told that I should say “please” and “thank you” in my emails and only receive a defensive response with no compassion or apology when I express how something made me feel like I didn’t belong as a woman.

As a young female CEO with older male cofounders, I often feel like I have to work around power dynamics so they don’t feel insecure.

I hope your voice that demands respect develops earlier than mine did. I’m now developing mine at age 25.

I hope you never have to experience these unnecessary things so you can focus more energy on your passion.

I strive to fight harder for change so that you can live in a world of equality.

I will call out behavior first thing so that it won’t get worse;

I will be difficult if I have to if it means you will never have to face the pressure of being too difficult just to gain respect as a woman;

I will negotiate for women who have yet to understand how worthy they are;

I will empower more women;

I will build a culture that enables men to respect women.

Your worth is not your outer beauty and it is not how many people like you. It is within the strength of your mindset.

Go after your gut, even when the majority thinks you’re wrong. Don’t be afraid to fail because I know you’ll stand up stronger.

You can be whomever you want. I encourage you to dream big and take risks. Do what feels right for you, and not because you feel like you should fit in a box.

I don’t care what you do. I care that you desire to be and believe that you can be the best at what you do. I will support you all the way.

Be assertive while still treating everyone with respect. Be kind to strangers. Let go of people who don’t respect or drag you down. People will challenge your mental agility, but stand tall always.

I will play my part to make the world you enter a better place for women to excel to their fullest potential.

I hope other and more women play their part as well.

Sincerely,

Mom

10 years before you are born