Lisa Cagle of Metro Transit St. Louis put it beautifully: after living in Oslo and watching everyone (young, old, families) use transit to access jobs, nature, and community, she realized transit "isn't just a service, it's a foundation for a more equitable, more joyful, more humane city." That vision is what drew her in, and it's what keeps her showing up.
From on-demand microtransit in Arlington, Texas to redesigned bus networks in St. Louis, these leaders are making thousands of decisions that riders never see, but absolutely feel. As Lisa described it: does a rider feel lost or confident? Do they feel dignified? That North Star guides everything from budget prioritization to app design.
Not one panelist said they grew up dreaming of a transit career. Gronna Jones started driving. Patty Kiewiz came in part-time looking for adult interaction after having a baby. Alicia Winkelblech fell into transportation through urban planning. The common thread? They leaned in, wore multiple hats, and found a purpose they didn't expect. As Gronna put it simply: "Just get involved."
Alicia's advice for women trying to level up: start doing the work of the role you want, now. Mentor an intern. Lead a project. Show the people above you that you can handle it before you're handed the title. And find a woman who's where you want to be — study what she does right, and what you'd differently.
Lisa's most honest leadership lesson: women are often socialized to be the competent one who does it all, which makes you a great utility player, but invisible as a leader. The real growth comes from learning to delegate, inspire, and get things done through people, not just by yourself.
When asked what keeps them in transit, the answers were unanimous in spirit: Patty said "the people" — her team, her riders, her mom who relied on paratransit. Lisa said it's never boring. Alicia said it's the opportunity — to change the narrative, to use technology that didn't exist 15 years ago, to make the world genuinely better for people. As Patty closed it out: "What we do every single day moves this world forward. Literally."