This week, Maddie interviews Adama and Sam about their careers as lobbyists. Lobbying is a growing profession in the United States. As of 2024, there were just over 13,000 registered lobbyists, and California represents a large portion of the industry, with over 3,000 in the state. More and more women are registering as lobbyists, and Adama and Sam have insights from their own experiences into why that's happening. There's a lot of misconceptions about lobbyists, so tune into part 1 this week to learn more from Adama and Sam about the profession in general and stay tuned for part 2 next week where we dive into many of those false assumptions.

Here's some background on our amazing hosts and their lobbying careers:

Adama

• Adama is a seasoned government affairs strategist based in New York City with over 20 years of lobbying experience across the insurance, financial services, and technology industries.
• She was selected as a California Fellow when she graduated from college, a highly selective program for aspiring policy professionals in the state.
• In 2017, Adama was featured on the cover of TIME as a Person of the Year for her incredible efforts to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment, and assault within employment and academic settings.

Sam

• Sam is a public policy, regulatory affairs, and AI expert based in Sacramento, California who helps businesses and non-profit leaders acquire money, power, and influence
• She has procured $11B+ in funding for her clients, including multi-year investments to support formerly incarcerated individuals through housing, workforce, and trauma-informed care.
• She also led efforts to pass whistleblower protections for Capitol Staff when she teamed up with Adama to start We Said Enough.

Keep up with The EmpowHERment ladies and what's coming next by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts and following them on YouTube and social:

• YouTube
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Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

info@nextdaypodcast.com

This week, we are lucky to have Martha Rodriguez as a guest on The EmpowHERment Show! Martha is an immigration attorney, advocate, and founder of MMR Law Group. She and Maddie met in the West Village of Manhattan in 2023 while getting their nails done. It just so happened Maddie needed to hire a lawyer to start the green card process with her Kiwi husband.

In this episode, Martha and the EmpowHERment ladies discuss what's going on with the US immigration system, the common biases and misconceptions, and what people need to know if they or someone they know is trying to immigrate here. There is a lot changing lately, so you definitely don't want to miss this conversation if you or someone you know are currently in the immigration process or considering it.

Here is the link to Martha's law group website if you are interested in contacting her. Additionally, below are some resources for women which were touched on this episode as well as some other avenues Martha recommends:

• USCIS phone number: 1-800-375-5283 (make sure to say info pass to obtain an agent on the phone and request your service ID number)
• To check on USCIS processing times, click here.
• For updates on USCIS policy, news, and cases click here.
• For anyone looking for asylum or refugee news and information, check out the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, click here.
• U-Visa (USCIS): A special visa for undocumented immigrants who are victims of serious crimes (like domestic violence or trafficking) and who help law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution. It offers temporary legal status and a path to a green card.
• VAWA (USCIS): The Violence Against Women Act allows undocumented immigrants who’ve been abused by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or family member to apply for legal status independently—without the abuser’s knowledge or help.

This week, Marjan Philhour - an influential figure in San Francisco politics, longtime community advocate, and mom of three - shares her journey from grassroots organizing to shaping local policy. Marjan reveals the challenges of overcoming gender bias in the political arena, balancing a demanding career with family life, and driving meaningful change for her community. With candid insights on navigating the hurdles of public service, she inspires listeners to redefine leadership and strive for more inclusive representation in government.

Listen to this inspiring conversation if you:

• Want to understand the biases women (particularly women of color) face in government
• Feel frustrated by the current political polarization
• Wish to support policy organizations and help drive change

Keep up with The EmpowHERment ladies and what's coming next by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts and following them on YouTube and social:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

info@nextdaypodcast.com