Last week, I had one of those moments in my career where you pause, take a breath, and think, “This… this is why we do what we do.” I had the absolute honor of presenting the Women’s Tech & Telecom Partnership Public Service Award to FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty — and let me just say, it was a joy from start to finish.
As someone who’s spent my career fighting for rural communities, greater connectivity and the people who make progress happen, seeing Commissioner Trusty recognized felt genuinely meaningful. She represents a new generation of leaders in our industry: smart, pragmatic, collaborative and deeply committed to making broadband access fair and achievable for every community, from the largest cities to the smallest crossroads towns.
When I stepped on stage to present the award, I found myself reflecting on the power of women’s leadership in tech and telecom. We’ve pushed open doors, built tables where none existed and made sure those who came after us had clearer paths than the ones we had to carve. Commissioner Trusty is part of that continuum, someone who isn’t just occupying a seat at the table, but actively reshaping how service, equity and innovation intersect.
And let me tell you, her reaction to receiving the award was exactly what you want to see when you’re standing at a podium looking out over a roomful of change-makers: humble, appreciative and fully aware that public service is never a solo act. Her work at the commission directly affects millions of people, and she approaches that responsibility with the seriousness, empathy, and curiosity it deserves. Presenting this award wasn’t just a line on my calendar. It was a reminder of why our industry thrives: because of leaders like Olivia Trusty who understand that technology is ultimately about people — and that public service is about showing up every day ready to make things a little better than they were the day before.
I walked off that stage feeling proud of her, proud of our community of women in tech and telecom, and proud that NTCA’s Women in Telecom program and the Women’s Tech & Telecom Partnership continue to lift the voices shaping the future.
Here’s to Commissioner Trusty — and to all the women making sure the future of connectivity is bright, inclusive and bold.