International Womens Forum - Washington State

What sets Terry Axelrod apart as a transformative leader is her ability to strengthen organizations while investing deeply in the people who power them. As we mark the close of Women’s History Month, we are delighted to spotlight Terry, who received last year’s International Women’s Forum (IWF) Leading Light Global Award, recognizing leaders whose contributions have made a lasting impact across the organization. Leaders across Seattle and the world call Terry a source of wise counsel, a natural connector, and someone who delights in bringing people together in ways that spark possibilities. Through her vision and generosity, Terry has helped define IWF’s culture in lasting ways. As the founder of Elly’s Ladder— a fast-growing giving society — she is cultivating an enduring culture of philanthropy, one that will amplify IWF’s global reach and strengthen the organization for the future. Within IWF-Washington State, our community of exceptional women leaders is committed to being the change they wish to see, and inspiring others to do the same. Terry embodies this spirit; indeed, she defines it. Terry sees a need and steps forward, creating a ripple effect that inspires others to lead. Please join us in celebrating Terry Axelrod, an inspiring leader whose influence continues to elevate women around the world. #IWF #IWFWA #LeadingLightAward #Leadership #WomenSupportingWomen #Philanthropy #CommunityImpact Lynne Varner Terry Axelrod Robin Shapiro Heidi de Laubenfels

What does it look like to build a wildly successful career while widening the path for others? Mary Pugh has spent her career answering that question—boldly and brilliantly. During Women’s History Month, we are proud to celebrate Mary, who was honored as one of the 2025 Women Who Make a Difference at the International Women’s Forum’s (IWF) World Leadership Conference last year. The award recognized her impactful leadership, which resonates across this region and beyond. As Founder and Chair of the Board of Pugh Capital, Mary set out more than three decades ago to build a trusted, fixed‑income firm rooted in Seattle. What began with a single client has grown into the largest African American, female-owned fixed-income firm in the country, managing more than $13 billion in assets. Under her leadership, Pugh Capital has been an annual fixture on Pensions & Investments’ list of Best Places to Work in Money Management. Ensuring that Pugh Capital is a great place to work is one reason why Mary’s influence extends far beyond the financial sector. She is a long‑time advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence and has devoted decades to creating opportunities for young people. Her board service includes The Advisory Board for the University of Washington Tacoma , the Washington Roundtable, the Washington State Investment Board, and The Greater Seattle Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, where she leads the award‑winning Building STEAM program for middle school girls of color. Her leadership has been recognized across the industry and the region, including honors from the National Association of Securities Professionals, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Seattle Storm, and most recently, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Diverse and Emerging Manager Forum. At IWF‑Washington State, we believe the outstanding women leaders who comprise our global membership are defined not only by what they achieve, but by how they lift others along the way. Mary exemplifies that spirit tenfold. Join us in celebrating Mary Pugh, an extraordinary leader making an enormous impact. #IWF #IWFWA #WomenWhoMakeADifference #Leadership #WomenInFinance #CommunityImpact #DEI #Inspiration Pugh Capital Management, Inc. Mary Pugh Robin Shapiro Heidi de Laubenfels Lynne Varner

Leaders usually build careers or they build communities. Joanne Harrell does both. We are celebrating the former First Lady of Seattle as an IWF Notable Woman for her life’s work underscoring partnership, service, and purpose. Joanne has long been known as a bridge-builder, someone who brings people together across sectors, perspectives, and communities to create meaningful change. Her career spans business, philanthropy, and public leadership. After early leadership roles in telecommunications, Joanne went on to serve as President and CEO of United Way of King County, strengthening support for families across the region. She later spent two transformative decades at Microsoft, helping to lead teams across sales, marketing, and public sector engagement. She continues today to shape the region through recent board leadership with HomeStreet Bank, Equal Opportunity Schools, and Fred Hutch, while also having served as a Regent at the University of Washington and as a current Senior Fellow for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Across every role, Joanne has championed diversity, equity, and opportunity, ensuring more people have a seat at the table and a path forward. At IWF-Washington State (IWF-WA), we believe the mark of a Notable Woman is not just what she accomplishes, but how many others she impacts along the way. Joanne Harrell exemplifies that spirit with grace, authenticity, and a deep belief in the strength of community. Please join us in celebrating Joanne Harrell, an inspiring leader whose impact continues to ripple across our region. #IWF #IWFWA #NotableWoman #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #CommunityImpact #Equity #Inspiration Lynne Varner Robin Shapiro Mary Knell Heidi de Laubenfels

Some people witness history. Others make it. Today we celebrate Judith Lonnquist, a founding member of International Women’s Forum–Washington State (IWF-WA) and a brilliant lawyer whose courage and conviction has helped shape a more equitable world. Since 1966, Judith has been a force in employment and civil rights law, taking on cases involving sex discrimination and sexual harassment long before such battles were widely understood, or widely won. She helped found the Northwest Women’s Law Center (now Legal Voice) and served as National Legal Vice President of the National Organization for Women, bringing both strategy and spine to the fight for equality. Closer to home, Judith’s leadership strengthened the legal system itself through her work with Washington State’s Gender & Justice Taskforce and the Gender & Justice Commission, ensuring the courts better serve everyone. Judith’s passion for equality is unmistakable, right down to her car’s license plate: “FEMINST.” At IWF-WA, we believe remarkable women change the world not only through their achievements, but through the doors they open for others. Judith Lonnquist has spent a lifetime inspiring generations of women to lead, to speak out, and to push the arc of justice forward. Join us in celebrating Judith Lonnquist, a trailblazer and a notable woman. #IWF #IWFWA #NotableWoman #WomensLeadership #GenderEquality #WomenInLaw #Inspiration Lynne Varner Robin Shapiro Mary Knell

It has been a privilege to work with outstanding, high-achieving and generous women in my life. Especially during International Women’s History Month, I am honored to serve on the International Women’s Forum – Washington State Forum Board, with fellow Board Members: Co-President Mary Knell, Treasurer Kathi Lentzsch, Secretary Cindy L. Runger Runger, VP/Membership Sherilyn Anderson, VP/Programs Gretchen Broderson, Past President Nicole Grogan, IWF Global Board and previous IWF-WA President Terry Axelrod and our at large Board Members Jamila Conley, Wei Gao, Julie Pham, PhD Pham, Lynne Varner, Betsy Webb and Darlene Wilczynski. Together, with other IWF-WA Forum leaders and members, we are focused on uniting to advance women’s leadership today and tomorrow. Our Forum is comprised of about 200 of the most powerful and impressive women leaders in the greater Puget Sound area.   We are part of the Global International Women’s Forum, the only global women’s organization with 50 consecutive years of growth. Today, our membership comprises over 8,200 preeminent women leaders in 35 countries and 77 local Forums. We unite our global community across cultures and careers, with the common mission to advance women’s leadership today and tomorrow. Here’s to amazing women who lift one another! #IWD2026 #IWF #IWFWA #GiveToGain #WeLead   Our members are Nobel laureates, Olympic athletes, CEOs, heads of state, academics, artists, astronauts, lawyers, financiers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and more. Our members build, create and transform our business, our society, and our world.

Inspired to attend last night's Be Bold Now event co-hosted by IWF-WA member Kate Isler at the Nordic Museum. Motivating to hear from IWF-WA member Nwando Anyaoku, MD, MPH, MBA who shared her secret to success (bringing all parts of yourself) and IWF-WA member Emily Parkhurst, FORMIDABLE, who was a sponsor and will be spotlighting all of the speakers on her https://lnkd.in/g4MhN-CR. Also great to see fellow IWF-WA members Robin Layton, Cindy L. Runger, Cate Goethals, PCC, Jennifer Price, Victoria Wassmer, Elizabeth MacPherson

We periodically invite Notable Women from our Forum to share an up close and personal look at their life's work for insights and inspiration. In honor of Women's History Month, we celebrate Suzanna Darcy, who made history with her achievements in flight.    Suzanna's incredible Boeing career began with her role as an engineer. Soon, she felt the call to be "one step closer to flying" and shifted to the company's flight training unit. Over the years, Suzanna trained and led a large group of instructor pilots, led production and experimental flight tests, trained customers, and had many firsts—from the first female production test pilot at Boeing to captaining the first flight for Boeing's 777-200LR ultra long-range jet. Flying from Hong Kong to London, Suzanna and her crew broke the distance record. It's no surprise she was asked to captain the Boeing 747-400, another first for women. Suzanna set an example of leadership and actively mentored generations of women and test pilots.    #IWFWA #WELEAD #IWFGLOBAL