With more than 20 years of experience in public service, I have learned that leadership is not defined by a title or position—it is defined by influence. True leadership requires courage, resilience, and the power of voice. For women especially, our voices are not just tools of communication; they are instruments of change.

I started my career in public service as a temporary worker, eager to learn but often quiet, believing my work alone would speak for me. Even in that entry-level role, I was entrusted with projects that stretched me and opened doors to spaces I never imagined I would enter so early in my journey. It was there that I met my mentor, Susan Welsh, who chose to invest in me. On every evaluation, she left the same two words: speak up. At first, it was uncomfortable. But over time, I realized she was giving me the key to leadership. The day her evaluation no longer carried those words was a turning point. I had not only found my voice; I had learned how to lean in with it.

That lesson carried me into roles where my voice became my greatest tool for influence. I spoke at council meetings and in boardrooms, where decisions directly impacted communities. Over time, those conversations prepared me for larger stages. I walked the halls of Congress, stood before policymakers at state capitals, and engaged national leaders on issues that shaped entire regions. In those spaces, I discovered that speaking up was not just about being heard—it was about driving results. I advocated for priorities that secured critical funding, advanced infrastructure, and influenced policies that led to lasting change.

As women, we are sometimes conditioned to think of each other as competitors. But leadership is stronger when we lift as we climb. Using our voices to lean in should never be just about personal advancement; it must also be about creating space for those who will come after us.

Leadership, however, is not tested only in professional spaces—it is also tested in personal ones. I have had to balance the realities of being a wife, a mother, and a leader, sometimes all at once. I have walked with my husband through a cancer diagnosis and endured the heartbreak of infertility and miscarriages, all while raising a daughter who dreams of Broadway theater and pediatric medicine. These experiences, which I later reflected on in my book Faith Period, reminded me that resilience is not the absence of hardship—it is the determination to rise in spite of it. They also taught me that balance is never perfect, but it is possible when we give ourselves grace.

At home, I encourage my daughter to use her voice, just as my mentor once encouraged me. Supporting her reminds me that leadership is not only about the workplace—it is about legacy. It is about ensuring the next generation steps forward with confidence, courage, and conviction.

Looking back, every stage of my journey demanded growth, every challenge built resilience, and every opportunity reinforced the power of leaning in with my voice. Women leaders today no longer question whether we belong at the table—we know we do. The question is: how will we use our voices once we are there?

For me, success has never been defined by titles alone. Success is influence. It’s using my voice to shape decisions, open doors, and create change that outlasts me. Success is resilience—the ability to rise again when challenges threaten to silence you. And success is legacy—knowing that the women who come after us, including my own daughter, will have a wider path because I chose to lean in.

My challenge to women leaders, and to those aspiring to lead, is this: do not hold back. Speak up. Lean in. Lead boldly. My story is one of resilience, growth, and conviction. And as for me, I will continue to climb the ladder of success—not only for myself, but to leave a legacy where women’s voices are not just heard, but amplified, valued, and remembered.

DOMINICA SMITH is senior director, special projects (Office of CEO), for Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.