Ep. 28 - Karen Daly: “UPLIFTING WOMEN DALY”
Insights from Karen Daly, Executive Director, Texas Women’s Leadership Institute, co-founder TWLI, Women in Government, former City Manager & Asst. City Manager
In this engaging and wide-ranging episode, Heidi sits down with Karen Daly, retired City Manager and Executive Director of the Texas Women’s Leadership Institute, to explore her remarkable leadership journey and the impact she has had on women in public service.
Karen shares what it was like to lead as one of the first female City Managers in Texas, navigating a male-dominated field while staying grounded in her values, voice, and commitment to doing the right thing.
Together, they explore leadership through the lens of authenticity, resilience, and integrity. The conversation moves through themes of voice, visibility, navigating challenge, and leading with passion.
A few other tidbits from Karen:
Building a leadership program supporting women in city management across Texas with her ReSisterhood Squad
Leading through crisis and loss, and the resilience required in public service
The evolution of her leadership voice, and the freedom that comes with greater authenticity
Stories of advocacy and community impact, including her work supporting underserved populations
From navigating political environments to standing firm in moments that matter, Karen’s leadership is rooted in fearlessness, integrity, and passion.
Whether you lead in government, business, or within your own life, this conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about fitting a mold.
It is about showing up fully.
Standing in your values.
And leading in a way that is unmistakably your own.
ABOUT Karen Daly
Karen Daly has 31 years of local government experience in Texas. She was the City Manager of Greenville and Hutto; the Assistant City Manager in Longview and Sugar Land; and worked in the City Manager’s Office in Arlington and the Executive Director’s Office at the North Central Texas Council of Governments. She served as the first Mountain Plains Regional Director for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) for seven years after retiring.
Karen is the Executive Director of the Texas Women’s Leadership Institute. She recently was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from ICMA for her advocacy and work on women’s representation in cities. She has two Masters degrees from the University of Texas-Arlington.
She loves being a volunteer and doing tax preparation for low income persons and families. She is a proud mom of two grown feminists and a mostly-grown husband who is a musician. She is also a soccer player and has been playing since the sport was invented.
