From the first brave moment to the lifelong mission—this is the work that changes everything.
The Work Worth Doing is a storytelling series celebrating women who lead with heart, vision, and purpose. Sometimes they follow the spark. Other times, it finds them—through an inner nudge, a moment of truth, or an unexpected door.
Some lead organizations. Others mentor behind the scenes, build creative ventures, or nurture change in their communities. What unites them is the courage to step forward and do the work that matters.
This series is about more than what these women do. It’s about why they do it—and who they become along the way.
In middle school and high school, that instinct translated into involvement. She stayed after class to help teachers, created posters for clubs, attended ball games, sang in choir, and played volleyball—anything that kept her connected to people rather than sitting on…
Marjorie’s earliest memories center on her mother’s kitchen table.
Every evening, her mom set it intentionally — plates lined up, food served family-style, laughter filling the space.
“My mom believed dinner wasn’t just about eating. It was about caring for pe…
A woman waits in the open ocean between islands, arm lifted for balance as she holds position for the next crew change. No shoreline. No applause. Only breath, patience, and instinct.
The Molokai Channel didn’t create her courage.
It revealed what had always been ther…
For Keri, leadership isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about transformation. As a teacher, she watched understanding dawn on students’ faces. As a provost, she sees it in faculty who feel supported and empowered. The thread is always the same: create space where others…
There was a plaque on her desk—DeVry’s most prestigious honor, the PRIDE Award—engraved with her name as the company’s top recruiter.
For Ronda Riden-Wilson, it was more than a trophy. It validated her ability to see people clearly, match them with opportunity, …
Her most important advice?
“Know what your gifts are—and just as important, know what they’re not. And be okay with that.”
In a world full of pressure to do it all, Sherri models something different: authenticity, purpose, and self-awareness.
“Bring your own…
She grew up in a family of music, lived a life of harmony, and passed on a spark that still sings in the voices of others. For Susan Mueller, music was never just notes on a page—it was a way to see the spark in others, and to give them courage to sing it out.
When asked what it means to be a storyteller, she doesn’t hesitate. “It’s about connection,” she said. “I want people to feel seen, understood, and not alone. If I can bring someone joy or comfort—even for a moment—that’s enough.”
“We served ten people that first day,” she recalls. By year’s end, they had served more than 32,000 meals. In 2024 alone, nearly 65,000 meals were served. Over 25 years, that number exceeds two million.