In America, women have the freedom to pursue more than one dream.
Hyperpoliticized cultural rhetoric, especially online, often sorts women into narrow categories like “tradwife” or “girlboss,” attaching limiting labels that flatten complex decisions into false binaries.
Success is framed as a set of competing scripts: prioritize career achievement above all else or step away from work entirely in favor of family life. This leaves little space for gray area, which is the common reality among American women.
In practice, many young women are looking for something flexible. Many of the women we work with at NeW want to build meaningful work, invest deeply in relationships and family, and shift their priorities in different seasons of life. Sometimes, for example, this means part-time work or flexible work.
Women should not be forced to choose between dreams because of restricting policy or rigid culture.
The ideal scenario? Have a plan in place, but also the freedom to pivot as life changes. Unfortunately for women today, that’s easier said than done.
NeW’s advanced fall course, Success in this Season, is designed for women who want strategic advice for different seasons of life after college: career, marriage, motherhood, and more.
Across six evening sessions, course participants will examine the cultural narratives and policy decisions around women’s work and family life. Speakers will share their own stories of navigating life’s seasons, from intentionally raising happy, healthy children to finding purpose in professional work. Workshops will invite discussion on what conditions—at the individual, cultural, and institutional level—can expand women’s opportunities to flourish.
Participants will also develop the ability to communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence, both in writing and conversation, so they can articulate their perspectives thoughtfully in high-stakes discussions. Finally, participants will learn about optimizing opportunity from NeW founder and president Karin Lips.
Participants will:
Last year, Paris Apodaca’s article was published in the Washington Examiner:
Applications close Monday, September 7, 2026.
This course is not offered for college credit.
Sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:30-8:30pm ET.
The course is open to college students and professionals who are paid national members. You can join NeW here.
Session One (September 16, 2026): Pro-Mother, Pro-America: Building a Better Nation for Families
Session Two (September 23, 2026): Freedom Starts Now: Strategic Moves for Women That Open Doors Later
Session Three (September 30, 2026): The Childcare Question: How Conservatives Can Lead on Paid Family Leave
Session Four (October 14, 2026): Driving Change at the State Level: Making Policy Work for Women with Christina Sandefeur
Session Five (October 21, 2026): A Culture That Welcomes Children Again
Session Six (October 28, 2026): Thriving in the “Messy Middle” and Building a Life Well-Lived with Karin Lips (Capstone Session)
