NeW recently hosted a webinar with Hadley Heath Manning, Vice President of Policy at the Independent Women’s Forum and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Manning is currently Executive Vice President at The Steamboat Institute. She discussed key economic policies, the role of government, and how free markets empower women.
Hadley explained economic principles using the Ten Commandments as a framework. She highlighted how price controls, like rent caps or minimum wage hikes, often lead to shortages or job losses. She also emphasized that everyone pays taxes, and that government overspending results in more debt and higher future taxes. Excessive government spending fuels inflation, and while low interest rates benefit homebuyers, they hurt savers. She also pointed out that while the US healthcare system is capitalist, heavy government involvement prevents true free-market competition.
Hadley spoke about the importance of policies that support working women, particularly those balancing career and family. Flexible work options, like independent contracting and entrepreneurship, give women more control over their schedules. However, recent regulations have made these career paths more challenging.
She encouraged young women to prioritize financial freedom by avoiding debt and following Dave Ramsey’s principles: “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” She also highlighted the benefits of following a traditional life path of completing education, then marriage, then children, to build financial stability.
NeW national members can access the full discussion on the membership platform. Hadley’s insights remind us that economic freedom creates real opportunities, especially for women.
