Mayor Kate Gallego on embracing motherhood, overcoming doubt & divorce, creating a career with impact, and looking towards the future.
“You’re asking for a promotion while you’re in the middle of a big public failure.” That’s how Kate Gallego felt in 2018. She opened up to Karen Finerman on the latest episode of How She Does It about how she navigated this tumultuous time.
Overcoming Doubt
Kate Gallego was serving on the Phoenix City Council and married to a congressman from Arizona when, in a matter of months, her life turned upside down. She became pregnant after having tried for some time, and her marriage ended in divorce. On top of that, her mother was diagnosed with late-stage cancer.
Meanwhile, Phoenix’s mayor announced he was stepping down, and a special election would be held. By this point, Gallego was single, overwhelmed with a newborn, and quite sure this was not the time to throw her hat in the ring to lead the country’s fifth-largest city.
But her supporters felt differently.
“I started sleeping through the night with the baby, I got a little bit more perspective, and there was a group of wonderful individuals, mostly women, who said, ‘We want to help you…You shouldn’t let this divorce and motherhood be the reason you don’t do this,” Gallego recalled.
Admittedly, she was late getting into the race, but she worked hard and was successful. In 2019, she became Phoenix’s mayor at the age of 37. Since that time, Gallego has been re-elected two more times.
Growing As a Leader: Finding Female Mentors & Embracing Her Authentic Style
Mayor Kate Gallego’s second job out of college was working for then-Governor Janet Napolitano, who later became a mentor for the mayor.
”She was very focused on getting things done… very no nonsense, but data-driven, showed up prepared… as I’ve run, she’s helped me along the way.”
Other lessons Napolitano taught her are to have perspective, the importance of seeing the bigger picture, and always keep preparing for the next challenge.
As far as her personal style, Mayor Kate Gallego acknowledges that she is a bit of an introvert. She has had to overcome some early criticism about her ability to work a room.
“ I am happier with smaller groups, but a big group of people I don’t know is harder for me. So I definitely have strategies where I try to make sure there are some people I know who might be able to introduce me to other folks,” Mayor Gallego shared.
Paying It Forward: Personal Motivation for Political Priorities
Some of the policies she has championed were born from personal experience, like expanding the availability of nursing spaces in the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. However, one initiative that has deep meaning for Mayor Gallego was increasing access to advanced cancer care in her city.
During her mother’s cancer battle, they received discouraging news.
”The team in Phoenix said to get the next level of care, you’ve got to go to Houston… and that’s really hard to hear. So, I’ve been trying to work so that fewer families have to hear that,” Gallego shared.
Mayor Gallego prioritized transforming the city into a medical innovation hub. The city has partnered with Arizona State University in building a new medical school and has attracted nearly $2 billion in healthcare investments.
Mayor Kate Gallego Is Looking Towards the Future
Another significant step for Mayor Gallego in diversifying Phoenix’s economy was being part of the team that recruited the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to make an $165 billion dollar investment in the city.
The chips made in Phoenix help power everything from smartphones to defense systems and airplanes. The massive project is not just an economic win; it’s also a national security milestone, ensuring that advanced chips are produced domestically.
She’s also working to minimize the impact of the city’s high temperatures, including increasing the amount of shaded public spaces and having the streets painted a lighter color so they hold onto less heat.
Mayor Kate Gallego is currently in her last term, which runs through April of 2029. Her name is already being mentioned in national circles. For now, she is keeping her focus on Phoenix.
In her words: “I do think I’m leaving the city in a better position for the next generation, and that’s incredibly rewarding.”
… Does more financial confidence sound good to you? We thought so! We’d love for you to join us at our two all-star hands-on financial wellness programs:
🚀 FinanceFixx – HerMoney’s 4 or 8-week Money Makeover financial coaching program that will help you get your finances on track!
📈 InvestingFixx – HerMoney’s investing club for women who are ready to learn market lingo, and grow their wealth. Your first month with us is completely free!
MORE ON HERMONEY:
More money news when you need it! Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting, and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!