Sali Christeson created Argent to empower women — at the office and the voting booth I still remember buying my first suit for work in the mid-‘90s at the Montgomery Ward in Lafayette, Louisiana. My mother came with me and purchased three suits that I was expected to mix and match to make them stretch a work week at WBRZ TV in Baton Rouge.  I was excited about kicking off my full-time television career while in college. But I was not excited about this suit. They all had one thing in common—they were so boxy! I had to settle for a fit that was far from perfect. Let’s just say that I’m hap ..read more

The joyful resilience of fundraiser Erika Garza Holland Ever since I’ve known Erika Garza Holland, I’ve associated one word with her: joy. Erika infuses joy in her work, which I saw firsthand when we were colleagues at the American Heart Association, and in her relationships — which I know because I’m blessed enough to be her friend. That joy helps make Erika an incredibly gifted fundraising professional, and it’s carried her through some difficult times. I love celebrating female #Firestarters during Women’s History Month, and Erika definitely fits the bill. I’m so grateful for everything I l ..read more

Plus, a special giveaway for Women’s History Month! March is Women’s History Month, which always makes me reflect on the incredible women who shared their stories of building movements for my book “Find Your Fire: Stories and Strategies to Inspire the Changemaker Inside You.” If you’ve read the book yourself, then you won’t be surprised at all to know that these #Firestarters are continuing to spark change:   Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes is driving real progress for working families here in Austin. One of her key accomplishments was the passage of a measure making it easier ..read more

Nykea Pippion McGriff is driven by a passion for making real estate more equitable If you’ve ever bought or sold a house, you know that the process can be winding and complicated. But you may not know that some prospective homeowners face even more obstacles to their dreams. That’s what Nykea Pippion McGriff discovered when she bought her first home. It was not a great experience. But it did change the course of her life. Her story contains so much wisdom and inspiration for all of us who are building movements for change, both in our communities and within ourselves. And I am thrilled to sha ..read more

January was crazy, right? So I want to share my PRO strategy for getting back on track. I must start this blog article with one of the most intellectually honest things I’ve said in my lifetime! Okay, now I know you are paying attention … January 2024 kicked my a**!  Before I get into the why, I’ll start with something I saw on Instagram, “I have decided my 2024 will start February 1st. January is definitely a free trial month.” Friends, I’m writing this on Superbowl Sunday, which means today is Sunday, February 11, and I’m declaring my 2024 will begin on February 15.  I know that I ..read more

How I Found My Guiding Word for 2024 As you know, for the past several years, I’ve been picking a word of the year to help me set the stage for who I want to be and how I want to live over the next 12 months. This is a powerful practice, and I hope you’ll join me in selecting your own 2024 theme word. I’m so excited to share mine with you. But first, I want to look back on how my 2023 word shaped my life and how it set the stage for my 2024 word. The Year of Surrender In 2023, my word was surrender. I truly wanted to surrender control so that I could allow myself to be fully present. Present t ..read more

Together for Our Future We hear a lot about the deep political divisions in our country today. But we hear less about people who are working to close those divisions. So today let’s fix that by talking about an organization I’m passionate about. Future Caucus helps young legislators see past partisan differences to what they have in common: being Millennials or members of Generation Z. This month, Future Caucus (formerly known as Millennial Action Project) is celebrating 10 years with a big party in Washington, D.C. (I’m very honored to be on the host committee for this event.) Ahead of the ce ..read more

How I’m helping open up the world to students at my alma mater I’m celebrating a little extra this Thanksgiving by giving back to a place that’s given so much to me. If you know me, you know that my love for my alma mater, LSU, runs deep. It’s a place that changed my life by showing me a world of possibilities. That’s why I’m so excited to share with you that I’m now helping LSU students realize their potential in the same way that I did. The Terri Broussard Williams Experiential Learning Fund will enable students at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communications to embark on learning experiences ..read more

Since 2016, I’ve been to Israel four times. Those trips are among the most inspiring and educational experiences in my life. I learned about the history of the land and its ties to my deep Catholic faith. These trips have fed my spiritual yearning. On each one, I’ve evolved as a human. I’ve walked the roads of Jerusalem, felt empowered in Tel Aviv and nurtured at the Sea of Galilee. My most recent visit was in January for a political fellowship. We were there for a briefing about the state of Israel. But we were also there for a unique cultural experience. I was part of a group of  14 ..read more

It was the first Fourth of July as an adult that I can recall genuinely feeling FREE! At the age of 45, I twirled in my pale pink swivel chair, thinking, “The land of the free and the home of the brave.” I was certainly free. This was my new home, and getting to this moment required me to be brave. I had just exited a double-income, no-kids marriage because I wanted a family, and it was becoming clear that my partner did not. It also became clear that I could continue in a relationship that made for a gorgeous magazine cover, or I could hit a reset button. I searched for a new way forward ins ..read more