Women leaders are an important component of effectively guiding the LADWP into the future. (photo courtesy of the LADWP)

The Los Angeles Department of Public Works honored herstory makers throughout the city Women Leading at Work: HERstories, on March 22.

The event featured guest speakers including Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, 7th District, Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, 5h District and deputy city attorney Kevin James.

“Women are leading in an unprecedented way,” Mayor Karen Bass said. “We have a record number of women serving on our city council, an all-female county board of supervisors, and our first female city attorney. We also have hundreds of women leading throughout City Hall, many of whom are here today. To each of you, I thank you. You are doing such crucial work to lead our city.”

During the event, deputy mayor Randall Winston moderated a panel with general manager of the Emergency Management Department Carol Parks, Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and Dr. Joyce Javier, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and a youth mental health advocate.

During the discussion, the leaders shared the obstacles they’ve faced throughout their careers and how they have persevered through adversity. They spoke about how they’ve balanced work and life and how essential it is to have that balance to succeed in their roles.

“We are making history and changing how things are done one day at a time to improve the livelihood of each Angeleno,” Board of Public Works president Aura Garcia said. “Women are leading the way throughout the city of Los Angeles, and it is important to celebrate the milestones we have achieved while understanding that much work lies ahead.”