Building Bridges: Leading as Women in Local Government

The Utah Women & Leadership Project invites you step into a world of inspiration and empowerment by joining our 2025 ten-part webinar “Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series.” This series is a celebration of dynamic and influential women who have shattered the glass ceiling landscape in Utah.

For our seventh webinar in this series, Dr. Susan R. Madsen will moderate a discussion with Michelle Kaufusi, Mayor of Provo City, and Dawn Ramsey, Mayor of South Jordan City. This conversation will begin with a focus on why the panelists are passionate about leading in such dynamic and complex settings, along with what brings them joy in doing such work. As they share stories about their career paths, they will also discuss what elements they find most challenging and inspiring at the same time. Dr. Madsen will also ask them questions about the foundational skills and abilities they think are important, especially for women, in leading in public spaces like local government. This includes how they have built bridges with individuals from all walks of life and with organizations that may have competing interests. Next, mayors Kaufusi and Ramsey will discuss their passions around lifting and supporting other women, as well as sharing their thoughts on what needs to improved in Utah to ensure that more girls and women—and their families—thrive. Join this webinar to learn more about building bridges and having careers that connect all parts of life from career to community to family!

Sponsors: Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University & Utah State University Extension

Panelists

Michelle Kaufusi is a Provo girl born and raised, graduated from Brigham Young University, always actively involved in community service—and eventually making history as Provo’s first female mayor. Honored as Utah’s 2019 Informed Decision Maker of the Year and the 2022 Utah Valley Chamber Champion, Mayor Kaufusi continues her regional leadership with appointed positions as the chair of the Utah County Metropolitan Planning Organization and MPO Finance Committee; former president of the Utah League of Cities and Towns; chair of Utah Municipal Power Agency; chair of the newly-established Utah Lake Authority; vice chair of Utah County Council of Governments; and vice chair of the Utah Water Quality Board. Mayor Kaufusi’s leadership has also translated to national accolades for Provo City. Most notably being honored by the distinguished Milken Institute as the nation’s Best-Performing City for an unprecedented three consecutive years from 2021-23. As the fourth largest city in Utah, Provo is has received other distinctions such as the #2 Safest Big City in the U.S. (2021), #2 Happiest City in America (2022), #2 Hottest Job Market in America (2022), #3 Most Neighborly City in the U.S. (2022), and #1 City for Worker Satisfaction (2023).

Dawn R. Ramsey is the first woman to be elected mayor of the city of South Jordan. Since she took office, South Jordan was the only city in Utah named one of the 10 fastest-growing cities in America by the 2020 U.S. Census. Dawn works closely with some of the largest companies in Utah, combining her public sector vision with their private sector expertise. She has served in top leadership roles on dozens of boards and commissions across Utah, including the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Unified Economic Opportunity Commission, Economic Development Corporation of Utah and many more. She is grateful for the privilege of working with the state’s brightest and best on housing, transportation, water, economic development, education, parks, trails, amenities, the arts, unified sports, honoring veterans and military families, and helping to create the grand vision for Utah going forward. Her motto is, “Do what is right, not what is easy.” She has always believed in working hard and being prepared so that when opportunities present themselves, she’ll be ready..

Moderator

Dr. Susan R. Madsen is considered one of the top global scholars and thought leaders on the topic of women’s leadership, has authored or edited nine books, and has published hundreds of articles, chapters, and reports. Her research has been cited in the U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Parenting Magazine, Chronicle of Higher Education, and The Washington Post. She is also a regular contributor to Forbes and other local and state newspapers. Professor Madsen is the Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University and serves on many nonprofit and community boards. She is also the Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project, the visionary behind Utah’s A Bolder Way Forward, and her passion is to strengthen the impact of girls and women in Utah and worldwide.

Event Venue

Online