Wendy Doyle, CEO of United WE, sits down on Kansas City Bucket List to unpack why Kansas City — and the country — still has systemic barriers holding women back from the workforce, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership. From the sky-high cost of childcare in Missouri and Kansas to outdated occupational licensing laws that make it harder for women to work, Wendy breaks down the research behind United WE's 35 years of impact in Kansas City and beyond.

We also go behind the scenes of United WE's Champions for Change event at CPKC Stadium — the first stadium in the world built for a women's professional sports team — including the inaugural Champion for Change Award presented to KC Current owner Brittany Holmes.

In this episode, we cover:

  • What United WE does as a nonpartisan "think and do tank" based in Kansas City
  • Why childcare costs in Missouri and Kansas now rival in-state college tuition
  • The economic case for women's workforce participation (and why it's not just a social issue)
  • Occupational licensing reform happening in Kansas and Missouri
  • The "invisible work" women carry at home — and emerging policy fixes like caregiving tax credits
  • Inside look at the Champions for Change event at CPKC Stadium
  • Why it could take 150 years to reach gender economic equity in the U.S.
  • Advice for women considering entrepreneurship, and how to raise confident daughters
  • How Kansas Citians can get involved with United WE

This conversation is a must-watch for anyone interested in Kansas City nonprofits, women in business, local economic development, and the future of Kansas City women's sports and leadership.

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