Introducing myself and my journal: Women Leading Today

About Me:
My name is Erin Vilardi and I was most recently the Vice President of Program and Communications at The White House Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that aims to advance women’s leadership. There I started out as an intern and embarked on my own leadership journey. At TWHP I developed and oversaw the award-winning Vote, Run, Lead training program providing women across the US with the skills and confidence to run for office. VRL launched in 2004, and has since trained over 11,000 racially,economically and geographically diverse women to lead a political life.

Last year, I was named a National Delegate to Vision 20/20 – an national project focused on advancing gender equality by energizing the dialogue about women and leadership – and will represent the state of New York for a three-year term. In 2008, I had the opportunity to partner with O, The Oprah Magazine to create WHP’s first cross-sector training program, Women Rule! – which worked to develop the leadership of 80 contest winners from across the country with innovative ideas for change. I am committed and experienced in developing women's full leadership capacity and want to bring those solutions to our world's most pressing issues.

I am very interested in learning from and working with women (and men) from around the world on how to advance women's leadership and increase our positional power. I've been blessed to engage with high-ranking women leaders on the issues of international security and with grassroots leaders keeping our communities strong and healthy. I've been a speaker and facilitator on college campuses and at conferences, appeared on CNN, the BBC, and was featured on "Spotlight 25," a Lifetime Television special on young women and the quarter-life crisis.

I most enjoyed being a part of Global Youth Connect's first delegation to Bosnia to study human rights and post-conflict resolution. I currently serve on the Advisory Board of the New American Leaders Project, increasing the representation of immigrants in public and civic life. I live and love New York City and graduated from New York University with a BA in Politics and Gender Studies.

I enjoy lazy Saturdays and spending time with my family.