From left: Lynn Harrell-Johnson, president of the National Council of Negro Women’s St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section; Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy Florida; Rita Wesley, executive assistant to the mayor; Jeannine Williams, assistant city attorney; and Stephanie Morge, vice president of learning and development for Power Design, at the Sunshine Senior Center on Tuesday. Photo provided.
Women’s History Month concluded on Tuesday with St. Petersburg celebrating five trailblazers who have left an indelible mark on the city.
Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy Florida, served as the keynote speaker for the event – “Her Story, Our Future: Women Leading the Way.” She also participated in a panel with Lynn Harrell-Johnson, president of the National Council of Negro Women’s St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section; Stephanie Morge, vice president of learning and development for Power Design; Rita Wesley, executive assistant to the mayor; and Jeannine Williams, assistant city attorney.
Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders kicked off the event by stating that there is “no way that you can calculate, measure, or count the contributions that women have brought to the City of St. Petersburg.” Seixas, who lost her parents at a young age, then shared her unlikely journey from history major to leading a power utility. She concluded her speech with words of inspiration.
“You have to be kind to yourself,” Seixas said. “And do not take criticism from somebody that you would not ask for advice.”
Here are some highlights from the panel, slightly edited for clarity and brevity:
Inspirations
Harrell-Johnson, also an accomplished entrepreneur, credited her mother, a maid, for instilling the value of hard work. “I don’t care what job you have, whatever you’re going to give, just make sure you do your best,” she said.
Williams named Tampa Bay’s first Black elected official, C. Bette Wimbish, as her inspiration. The two met shortly after Williams moved to St. Petersburg, and routinely stressed the importance of perseverance.
“She was young, she was Black, she was a woman, and she accomplished all these things despite the obstacles in her way,” Williams said of Wimbish. “Every time I have an obstacle before me, I think of her, because they seem small when I think about what she faced.”
Lessons Learned
Morge noted that the number of women in leadership positions has increased. She also warned that “they’re not always in your corner.”
However, those personal experiences still taught Morge how “not to be a leader, and things not to do,” she said. “How can I learn from this person? How do I make sure that I can not only work with them, but also make myself better through that relationship?”
The City of St. Petersburg’s Parks & Recreation Department organized and hosted the event. Photo by Mark Parker.
Motivation and Perseverance
Williams said she maintains a “growth mindset” to ensure her kids realize that “mom never stopped learning.” Harrell-Johnson highlighted the reciprocal impacts of keeping close relationships.
“We don’t know what this journey is going to throw at us, but when it does, we need to be able to stand firm and continue to move forward,” she explained. “You can do that when we have good people who we have poured into, who understand us, and they can pour back into us.”
Misconceptions
Wesley said people often assume that “you’re perfect, that everything has been wonderful for you,” without realizing the obstacles faced away from the public eye. She also noted that “sometimes people are watching us to see how we are responding to challenges.”
“Just keep putting one foot in front of the other,” Wesley said. “Just get up, and sometimes it’s hard to get up.”
Morge, echoing a sentiment Figgs-Sanders shared in her opening remarks, noted that women often take on multiple roles. She emphasized the importance of seeking help and practicing self-care.
“I think we owe it to ourselves to do a better job of trying to balance the weight that we carry,” Morge said.
Moving Forward
Seixas said the city has a well-earned reputation for fostering connections. She credited decades-old women’s clubs and church groups, and hopes future generations will “carry on that legacy of being involved and engaged and willing to raise your voice – not be a bystander.”
Harrell-Johnson encourages people to think and “be outside of the box,” volunteer, and not let a professional title become a defining characteristic. Morge said women should “say ‘yes’ to things that bring you joy,” and not be afraid to share their accomplishments.
“Try something new, and just see what happens,” Wesley said. “Be open to what the universe is offering you. Maybe you’ll like it, maybe you won’t, and maybe it will lead you down the yellow brick road to where you really want to be.”
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