Part Two: Women & the Money

You are sick of me saying “Follow the money,” right? How about the fact that the money trail is looking pretty feminine these days? From Reese Witherspoon selling her production company for a whopping $1 billion to Mackenzie Scott quietly giving away billions (yes, billions) to nonprofits faster than they can say WTF?, women with financial power are rewriting the rules. And we’re doing it with collaboration, intelligence, and a whole lot of heart.

Take Reese, for instance. Her work isn’t just about making money; it’s about making a statement. The stories she’s bringing to our screens show women as protagonists, as multi-dimensional beings with ambitions, struggles, and triumphs. They offer a mirror to see ourselves and a window to imagine what we can become. That’s cultural capital—and it’s priceless.

Then there’s Melinda French Gates, who flipped the pyramid hierarchy of philanthropy on its head. She didn’t just dole out cash with strings attached. No, she created a circle of collaboration, surrounding herself with women who are experts in their fields and empowered them to decide how to make the biggest impact. That’s not just giving money—it’s giving power. Sure, she will be kept up to date on it all, but she’s not putting her stamp of approval on each grant.

And Mackenzie Scott? I call her the ninja philanthropist, moving quietly but leaving an undeniable mark, everywhere she goes. Education, women, equity—she’s funding the fights that matter. Elon Musk is terrified of her. He says she shouldn’t have this much power. And he should? Do not get me started. You know when she and Jeff Bezos were driving across country to start Amazon, they wrote the business plan in the car. And, she was successful on Wall Street in her own right.

And how about Alexis Ohanian, Serena William’s husband? Let’s hear it for the guys who get it. His $750,000 investment in women’s basketball proves that backing women isn’t just a feel-good gesture; it’s a smart one. He intends to do good and to reap the financial rewards as well.

But here’s the thing: not every woman is on board. Let’s address the elephant in the room. That 44% of women who voted for Donald Trump, how do I account for that in my state of shock? Whether they were misinformed, scared, or temporarily out of their minds, it doesn’t matter now. I (you) have to stop focusing on that. What matters is that the rest of us are waking up to our power. And the key to using it effectively lies in collaboration with others.

Here’s the truth “they” don’t want us to realize: women control the majority of consumer spending in this country. We’re the ones deciding where the dollars go, and if we start using that power intentionally, we could turn this ship around faster than they can say “back to the kitchen.” Because if we channel our resources—our money, our voices, our support—toward women-owned businesses, women-led initiatives, and the stories that elevate us, the power they think they have goes poof.

So you may not be a Reese, or a MacKenzie, or a Melinda, but put ‘you’ together with many other you’s, and we have a brick wall of power. They can’t climb over it.

So this is not the sixties, where the only agency we had was to burn bras and walk the streets. We couldn’t get a mortgage, or even in a credit card in our names. Now? We control where the money in America is spent. They have underestimated our strength and our intelligence.

So, what’s the plan? First, we celebrate each other. Every big win for a woman is a win for all of us. Reese’s billion-dollar deal? That’s a reminder that women’s stories sell. Mackenzie’s billions in donations? Proof that women know how to lead with purpose. And, she has more and more to give away moving forward.

Second, we support each other. Whether it’s buying from women-owned businesses, funding women’s political campaigns, or showing up for each other in ways big and small, we need to put our money where our mouth is.

And finally, we fight the good fight—together. The next few months are critical. We need to ensure that women have the resources, representation, and resilience to keep moving forward. And, there are men in our corner too, but make no mistake: there are forces (most of which are men) in government and corporate endeavors that want to roll back our progress.

They’ve underestimated us. Women are starting to understand that we’re stronger together, and that our collective power—financial, cultural, political—is the ultimate game-changer. So let’s use it. Let’s collaborate. Let’s celebrate. And let’s make sure that the story of women in this country isn’t one of regression but of unstoppable progress.

Every time you think of buying something, take a moment to ask yourself if you are investing in ‘their’ future, or yours. And, talk about it everywhere you go. “How are the kids, and by the way, where are you spending your money?” Too much? Tick tock. The clock is ticking. We have to move in this minute, on this day, during this week, all month.

See you at the check out line.