Women of Georgetown: Let’s Celebrate Together on Thursday! Good Times, Share Thoughts and Advice

We asked women leaders of Georgetown about their best advice and lessons they’ve learned in honor of an upcoming Thursday happy hour Bringing Women Together in Georgetown. Read more about the event, which will be Thursday, March 19 from 5-7 p.m., below:

Iesha Holy, Board Chair of Georgetown Main Street & Founder of EuroBronze Sunless Studio

What’s your greatest advice for young women starting out in their career?

My greatest advice is to stay curious and never be afraid to pick up a new tool. When I was an accountant and first picked up a spray tan gun for fun, I didn’t plan on it becoming the foundation of a business; I just realized I had a knack for it, enjoyed it and then leaned in. For young women, I’d say: don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect calling. If you see a hole in the market, go for it. Be a ‘closet nerd’ about your craft—throw yourself into the ins and outs of your industry until you’ve perfected it. Success often comes from that mix of professional expertise gleaned from genuine curiosity.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?

The greatest lesson I’ve learned is the power of community and visibility. As a business owner, visibility is your responsibility. Whether I’m running my own studios or chairing Georgetown Main Street, I’ve seen that businesses don’t thrive in a vacuum. You have to actively work to improve the climate for everyone around you by showing up in your community. When you invest in your local community—like supporting small businesses through the Georgetown Cookie Tour or Art All Night—that energy comes back to you.

What’s your favorite way to get your message out to people?

For me, it’s all about creating an experience that speaks for itself, amplified through community storytelling. In the sunless tanning world, the ‘glow’ is the message—word of mouth is incredibly powerful when people leave feeling confident. However, in my role with Georgetown Main Street and my other ventures, I love using local platforms and community events to connect the message to people. Whether it’s doing interviews with local outlets like The Georgetowner or Foodie and the Beast to promote DC’s vibrancy, or hosting events that bring people physically into the neighborhood, I believe the best way to get a message out is to make it personal and local. I like to show, not just tell.

Brittany Sawyer, Executive Director of the Citizens Association of Georgetown

Brittany Sawyer

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?

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Ruth Allan of L’Enfant Gallery

Ruth Allan

What’s your greatest advice for young women starting out in their career?

BUILD SOCIAL CAPITAL. My advice is the same to any young person. Making things happen is only possible with others. You are only as strong as the people around you and the sphere over which you have influence. My advice is to make meaningful connections and hold onto them. Meet other people you respect and can learn from. Connection appears so easy now but it has become so superficial. Meet people in person. Look them in the eye. Ask them honest questions. Don’t be too proud to ask and don’t be afraid to look vulnerable for not knowing. “Vulnerability is not a weakness” (Brene Brown). Gather personal contact information and keep in touch with them. Write to them after the first meeting to thank them for their time. As you rise and grow, give time to learning good leadership and best management practices. Good managers and leaders who are respected have happy motivated teams who work harder and get more done. Social capital remains timeless and I believe human connection and building trusting relationships will only become more essential.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF. Pace yourself. One is much for effective and one’s efforts are more sustainable if you are well and not tired. Make time for having, making and sustaining friendships and prioritise your own mental and physical health above all else. 

 

What’s your favorite way to get your message out to people?

REPETITION: Advocacy, influencing others and behaviour change is a process of attrition. It’s a slow game made of many small steps. The message has to be planned, evidenced based and consistent. Say it. Say it again. Say it to people in your circles and in other circles. Say it. Say it again. Keep saying it until other people say it too. When the whisper comes back to you, you know it’s out there.

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Lisa Fager, Executive Director of the Black Georgetown Foundation

Lisa Fager

Greatest advice for young women starting out in their career?

Stay curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career came from showing up, listening, and building relationships in the community.

Greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career?

The work that matters most often takes patience and persistence. Real change doesn’t happen overnight, but staying committed to the long view makes it possible.

Favorite way to get your message out to people?

Storytelling. Whether through a walking tour, a talk, or sharing research, stories help people connect to history and understand why it still matters today.

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