Ohio Is Worth Fighting For: Kathleen Clyde on Women-Led Teams, Mentorship, and the Most Competitive State in 2026
Have you ever taken a job that changed how you saw the world?
For Kathleen Clyde, it was her first job out of college. Working at a nonprofit fighting homelessness, she saw how one elected official's decision could make or break an entire program. That’s when she realized where the real power was and decided she wanted to help make those decisions.
In this episode of Carry As You Climb, Nan Whaley sits down with her longtime friend and Ohio Democratic Party Chair, Kathleen Clyde, to talk about finding her way into politics, the women who helped her get there, and what she’s learned along the way.
From becoming the youngest woman in the Ohio General Assembly to running statewide and now leading Ohio Democrats, Kathleen talks about building women-led teams, staying grounded in her values, and the work that keeps her going.
It’s a conversation about finding your place, using your voice, and making room for more women at the table.
Conversation Highlights:
- Find where the decisions happen: How Kathleen’s first job fighting homelessness changed her career and led her toward public office.
- There’s no substitute for showing up: What knocking on doors, running statewide, and navigating Ohio’s political landscape taught her about connecting with people.
- Lead with your values: How her experiences with voting rights, racial justice, and public service continue to shape her approach to leadership.
Resources Mentioned:
- Ohio Democratic Party
- The Legacy Sites — Equal Justice Initiative, Montgomery, Alabama
- An Unexpected Life: A Memoir by Gloria Steinem
- Rose Lounsbury's Carry As You Climb episode
About Our Guest: Kathleen Clyde is chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, elected in June 2025 as the second woman to hold the role. Raised in Garrettsville, Ohio, she previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives and was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Ohio Secretary of State, and served as a Portage County Commissioner. A graduate of Wesleyan University and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Kathleen has worked throughout her career on voting rights, racial and economic justice, and expanding opportunities for women in leadership.
About the Host: Nan Whaley is a longtime community leader and public servant. She's currently the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. She served as Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 - 2022. Nan has also presided over the United Conference of Mayors. She's a feminist, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend.
About the Show: Carry As You Climb elevates the voices of women in leadership from Ohio and across the United States. The podcast features guests who not only bust through doors to lead but also hold the door open for more women behind them. In other words, they carry as they climb. We focus on leadership development and leadership lessons. Plus, we share personal experiences to inspire the inclusion of more diverse leaders in business, government, and the nonprofit sector.
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Stay up to date with Nan's Substack: substack.com/@nanwhaley
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Produced by: Collective Change Communications - Kelly Sakalas & Jeni Keeler
Note: The opinions expressed by host Nan Whaley on this podcast are hers alone and do not represent any organization with which she is affiliated.