Historically, women have been denied positions of authority, their opinions and access into male-dominated spaces. In combat, The Women’s Resource Center hosted a keynote speaker and a panel on Monday to discuss female leadership and offer female-identifying students a seat at the table.

“HER Table: A Leader’s Lunch” began with a speech by keynote speaker Donna Bland, the CEO of Golden 1 Credit Union, and ended a discussion with three panelists: Sacramento City Manager Marakeshia Smith, injury attorney and Phoong Law CEO Anh Phoong, who is an alumna of Sacramento State and California Student Aid Commission Executive Director Daisy Gonzales, also an alumna of Sac State.

Women’s Resource Center Program Coordinator Nataly Andrade-Dominguez said the center originally planned for the event to be small scale with only 120 attendees, but it skyrocketed to over double their predictions, about 350 attendees.

“Seeing women who are currently in positions of authority and power in the state of California to the degree that they’re at is inspirational to see them in action,” Andrade-Dominguez said. “We can hear about stories and read them. When you get to see them and see the realness of their story, it makes a big difference.”

Donna Bland, Golden 1 Credit Union CEO and keynote speaker, discusses her San Francisco origins and experiences balancing motherhood and a career Monday, March 16, 2026. Bland said she was first inspired by female leadership through her all-girls high school. (Melina DeBolt)

Bland opened the event by sharing her backstory of growing up in poverty with an immigrant mother and a military father. She said this gave her an understanding of the value of money down to the nickel for her bus fare.

“I have the unique experience of attending an all-girls high school,” Bland said. “Being in an environment where women were everything, administrators, teachers, students, artists, athletes, everything. That experience established in me that women can do anything.”

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After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in accounting from San Francisco State University, she moved to Sacramento for a cheaper cost of living and accepted a role as vice president controller at Golden 1 Credit Union. She was promoted to the chief financial officer two years later, reflecting that this position would have been the pinnacle of her career to her college self.

Despite reaching what she thought to be her peak, the position for CEO of Golden 1 soon opened and Bland was faced with the dilemma of staying her position or advancing further. Bland said she loved her job as a CFO but loved Golden 1 even more and decided to take the position after writing to the board of directors.

“As I moved through my career, I had to overcome a personal and societal belief that a woman could not have a successful career and be an involved, nurturing mother,” Bland said. “That was my biggest challenge I overcame in my career because I wanted both. I worked very hard to be both, and I still do.”

When she first began working at Golden 1 as a new mother, Bland said she was inspired by a colleague who balanced the life of being a single mom and a managing position.

“She demonstrated through her own life and outcomes that you can have a successful career, strong relationships with your kids and the ability to raise hardworking, smart, loving, good people,” Bland said.

Today, Bland said she has helped shape Golden 1 in its culture with customer service, helping it gain national recognition as a great place for women to build their careers and leave with a purpose.

Students eat a meal while listening to speakers Monday, March 16, 2026. The event hosted about 350 attendees, with the majority made up of students. (Melina DeBolt)

The three panelists concluded the event by answering questions from event moderator and California Deputy Treasurer Stephanie Tom. She asked questions regarding pivotal career moments, the meaning of leadership, how it changes over time and how students can network to create their kitchen cabinet.

Smith responded, stating that she was asking for feedback for an event while working for the City of Cincinnati in Ohio and realized through rejection that she was failing to show her authentic self by portraying how she wanted others to view her.

“I started to value people,” Smith said. “I started to realize that leadership is not about power, it’s about empowering people.”

Gonzales said the first time she reflected on being a leader was seven years ago when she was serving as the first Latina and woman, leading 116 colleges in California. She said the most pivotal moment that made her a leader was growing up in the foster system.

“I was living in a group home and the staff of the group home had not washed our sheets for several months, and many of the other foster youth were getting rashes,” Gonzalez said. “I was only 11; I was the youngest in the home.”Noticing the staff’s push to send the kids to school every morning, Gonzales said she coordinated for the kids to refuse to go to school until the linens were washed. Through standing up, she learned how to step in and step back, including how necessities have a close walk in life.

“It’s about a very clear vision for where we’re headed, what is our process for problem solving and how we actually problem solve,” Gonzales said. “Along the way, we learn relationships and observations of how power operates.”

Phoong said she never sought out to be a leader but originally started her “Something Wrong? Call Anh Phoong” marketing campaign 10 years ago. She said she only saw older white men leading the personal injury field, making her want to bring more representation to the industry. The first calls Phoong received were not because people got into car accidents, but they were from young girls, their mothers and aunts.

“They said to me, ‘I don’t have business for you, but I wanted to tell you that seeing your face on that billboard or TV has given my daughter, niece, granddaughter the vision that she could be like you and be somebody,’” Phoong said.

Her goal, Phoong said, was to show through her story that people don’t have to fit into a particular category or background to obtain an education or build a successful career.

Regardless of background or adversities that students might face, Andrade-Dominguez said she hopes students know they can succeed in their careers.

“We have societal norms that women belong in the house or certain areas that society has tried to put it in,” Andrade-Dominguez said. “You deserve a seat. If you don’t have one, then make one for yourself.”