Collaboration Over Competition: Why I Stepped In for 1 Girl Revolution Without Hesitation

In a world that often pushes women to compete for space, for attention, for validation — I believe in something different.

I believe in answering the call. Literally.

When my friend Kate Milligan — host of the 1 Girl Revolution Podcast called me and said, “I need a favor,” she didn’t need to finish the sentence. She had been invited to appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show (yes, THE Kelly Clarkson), but it landed on the same day she had committed to covering Rebel Nell’s 5th Annual International Women’s Day Event in Detroit.

One opportunity didn’t cancel out the other — both were powerful, both were rooted in the same mission: amplifying women’s voices. But Kate couldn’t be in two places at once. So she asked me to step in.

And of course, I said yes.

Not because I needed the spotlight. Not because I was trying to make a name for myself in someone else’s lane. I said yes because this is what real collaboration looks like. You show up. You support. You help your people win — whether you’re in the frame or behind the scenes.

That day, I walked into an event that I’ll never forget. I got to speak with the founder of Rebel Nell, Amy Peterson, and interview a nearly 100-year-old original Rosie the Riveter — Delphine Klaput — along with Bette Kenward, the President of the WOW Chapter of Rosies. I also had incredible conversations with powerhouse women across industries, each one proving that strength isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s found in consistency, resilience, and showing up for others.

But more than that, I was reminded of something bigger: when we stop hoarding the mic and start passing it, everybody wins.

There’s room for all of us. There’s more than enough success, attention, impact, and opportunity to go around. And when women genuinely support each other — without ego, without fear, without scarcity — it creates a ripple effect that hits way harder than any one person can do alone.

So this post is a reminder: If you're building something — don’t build it alone. If you're offered a seat at the table — make room for someone else. And if someone you admire calls and says “Hey, I need help,” — answer. Show up. Step in.

That’s how we shift the narrative.

Not by shouting over each other but by saying: “I’ve got you.”