Episode 2: Mentoring Maine’s Future: A Conversation with Christina McAnuff of the Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute

✨ Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode, Elise sits down with Christina McAnuff, Executive Director of the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute, to explore how this transformative organization is raising the confidence and aspirations of high school girls across Maine. With a presence in 37 schools and over 1,400 alumnae and active Olympia Leaders currently in high school, the Institute offers a unique three-year leadership curriculum—My Values, My Voice, My Vision—rooted in the personal ethos of Senator Olympia Snowe.

Elise and Christina discuss the origins of the program, how it selects and mentors students, and why mentorship—especially from women to young women—matters now more than ever. Elise also shares her personal journey as a Leadership Advisor and reflects on the lifelong connections formed through this deeply meaningful work.

🗝️ Key Topics Covered:

• The three-year curriculum: My Values, My Voice, My Vision
• How students are selected and supported through mentorship
• The leadership and legacy of Senator Olympia Snowe
• How the Institute maintains cultural continuity across Maine
• Personal stories of growth, affirmation, and resilience
• Ways to get involved—as a mentor, volunteer, speaker, or donor

📍 Highlights by Segment:

• [01:00] – Introduction to the Olympia Snowe Institute’s mission and reach
• [06:00] – The “My Values, My Voice, My Vision” curriculum explained
• [13:00] – Senator Snowe’s enduring influence and authentic engagement
• [20:00] – A discussion on scale, sustainability, and personal connection
• [27:00] – Stories from the fall forum and statewide events
• [38:00] – Powerful moments of mentorship and emotional affirmation
• [46:00] – How to support the Institute and invest in Maine’s future leaders

💬 Favorite Quotes:

“You may not know the impact you have ever. You might know it immediately, or it might come years down the road.”
 – Christina McAnuff“We’re all in. We’ve got your back. We are in your corner.”
 – Elise Kiely, to her Olympia leaders

🎧 Call to Action:

Feeling inspired?
 💡 Learn more about the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute: www.snoweinstitute.org
💬 Consider becoming a mentor, volunteer, speaker, or donor.
🗓️ Attend one of their statewide events and see the mission in action.

Donate to the Olympia Snowe Leadership Institute: https://snoweleadershipinstitute.org/your-support/

Follow Elise on social media (links provided below) and subscribe to Elegant Maine Living for more stories o

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Transcript

EML - Christine Pt 1 4.13.25 (1)

Elise Kiely: [00:00:00] Welcome to Elegant Maine Living, where we explore the beauty, charm and sophistication of life in Maine. My name is Elise Kiely, your host, and a real estate advisor with Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty. On each episode, we dive into Maine's residential real estate market, sharing key trends, inventory, insights, and notable sales, while also highlighting the extraordinary lifestyle that makes Maine such a special place to live, work, and play.

Elise Kiely: Whether you're seeking a coastal retreat, a vibrant community, or an escape into nature, elegant main living is your guide to the homes and experiences that define our great state. Let's get started. Good morning, [00:01:00] Maine. The nber of the day is 1,400. That is the nber of Maine high school girls currently in or graduated from the Olympia Snow Leadership Institute.

Elise Kiely: Well, welcome listeners. I'm excited to introduce and speak with today my good friend Christina Macoff, who is the executive director of the Olympia Snow Leadership Institute. Today we're going to have a conversation about the mission of the institute and the impact of the program designed to enhance confidence and leadership skills in high school, women in Maine and the role of mentorship in leadership development. 

Elise Kiely: Welcome Christina.

Christina McAnuff: Thank you. Elise 

Elise Kiely: Christina has been the executive director of the Olympia Snowe Leadership Institute for, 

Christina McAnuff: I'm about to finish my ninth year. 

Elise Kiely: Wow. And are you, were you the founding [00:02:00] executive director of the institute? 

Christina McAnuff: I was not. I am the second executive director.

Elise Kiely: Christina, you have grown the organization tremendously over the last few years. Do you, where was the organization in terms of nber of girls that you were serving when you started? 

Christina McAnuff: So when I joined the institute in late April of 2016, the very first class of Olympia's leaders, which is what we call the students in the program, they were completing their first year.

Christina McAnuff: So they were sophomores finishing their sophomore year, and there were 49 of them. 

Elise Kiely: Wow. 

Christina McAnuff: And they represented seven schools and over the next. Two years, we expanded to every county in Maine from two counties, and we grew to represent 37 schools and had three classes of Olympias leaders at each high school.

Christina McAnuff: So 111 cohorts of students. 

Elise Kiely: Wow. And then today, how many schools have the [00:03:00] curricul. In their schools today.

Christina McAnuff: So we have 37 partner schools. However, we have grown the nber of students. So rather than having , five Olympia leaders per group, we're now welcoming six. And so our goal is to continue to go deeper within our partner schools.

Elise Kiely: That's incredible. That's incredible. And before we get too far ahead of ourselves, can you share with our listeners the mission? Of the institute 

Christina McAnuff: I can, it is to raise the confidence and aspirations of Maine Girls by helping them acquire and strengthen the leadership skills they need to be leaders in any aspect of their life.

Christina McAnuff: So their careers, their communities, , and their families.

Elise Kiely: So girls, when they're at the end of their freshman year in high school, they are identified, selected by their guidance counselors. Is that right? 

Christina McAnuff: They are. They're nominated by adults who know them well because we are [00:04:00] looking to work with a girl who might not raise her hand if, you know, if the program was offered for a signup sheet. , she may not see leadership in herself yet. , she may not be taking opportunities offered to her, and so through the nomination process, you'd be pretty surprised at how quickly a group of teachers, administrators, really staff of a high school can identify those six to seven students who fit the profile of an Olympia's leader.

Elise Kiely: And what are some of the other criteria that people are looking for as they look at a freshman class of, could be, you know, a hundred, 200 students. 

Christina McAnuff: Yeah. So it is, it's a student who might not be getting recognized for the right reasons. So they're flying under the radar. They probably have, , good or stable grades.

Christina McAnuff: They have a network of friends. They are, you know, they're coming to school and yet you [00:05:00] believe they have unmet potential, unrealized potential. They also, they represent the culture of the school. So for example, in Westbrook, chances are there are going to be some new Mainers in the class of Olympia's leaders.

Christina McAnuff: If you are in Lewiston, same thing. Whereas in Jay Maine or Spruce Mountain, that culture is different. So we look at, people's lived experiences, their socioeconomic background, disabilities and interests. So what is really nice is that a cohort of Olympia's leaders, to the extent possible, represents the culture of a school and a community, and that lays the groundwork for what they will engage in the first year, which is really a lot of self knowledge, but also appreciating the differences in their peers. 

Elise Kiely: So let's talk a little bit about the curriculum in the three years, and then I want to talk about how you sustain [00:06:00] the culture and continuity because maine is a big state, and we have some very rural communities that are very distant driving to each other. How you've maintained that cultural continuity. So let's start with the curriculum first. If we could, can you describe the different years and what you, what you focus on? 

Christina McAnuff: I sure can. I think it's, it's important to note that our curriculum, which follows the progression of my values my voice and my vision, it's really, it's coming from Senator's lived experience that when she represented the state of Maine in the US House and Senate, she would turn to her values when she was, you know, going to a vote. She would use her voice to reach across the aisle, and to find common ground with other representatives and knowing what the people of Maine wanted for their vision.

Christina McAnuff: She helped realize that in a very public way. So the curricul follows. [00:07:00] What is so important to her and to her career and what served her well all these years. And so in the first year, my values, it is, it's a lot about self knowledge. There are studies that document that when we know more about ourselves, when we understand ourselves better, our confidence increases. And so that's part of, that's part of the outcome we measure. 

Elise Kiely: And these are girls in their freshman year that. 

Christina McAnuff: now in their sophomore year, when they enter the program,

Elise Kiely: they enter the program. 

Christina McAnuff: they're nominated as as, , as ninth graders and enter in the fall of their 10th grade year. 

Elise Kiely: So these girls are 15, 16 age group. Okay. So that's your first year, your sophomore year are your values. Right. 

Christina McAnuff: And just to put a point on it, girls lose confidence between middle school and high school. And so in that freshman year. That's when, , it's a, it's a very critical year for girls and the teachers who are educating them see those that might be [00:08:00] losing their confidence rather than taking off.

Christina McAnuff: And so that's why that's the year in which they are nominated. And so the values is the first year looking inward, but also appreciating the incredible difference. That is found in their peers, even within a group of six, six girls. , and then as they progress to their junior year, my voice. They build on what they learned in the values year.

Christina McAnuff: So now that I know more about myself, I can appreciate people who have different perspectives and lived experiences. Now, how do I want to engage with them? How do I wanna use my voice maybe, to affect change? How do I ask? People with different perspectives and opinions to share those so that everyone's voice or many voices can be considered in a solution.

Christina McAnuff: They also learn how to have important conversations, which I think is timely, , and difficult conversations and difficult of course. , and [00:09:00] then when they enter their senior year. My vision, it's about putting everything together. And so now that I know what's important to me, what I stand for, what my skills are, I know how to communicate proactively and appropriately.

Christina McAnuff: I know how to listen to others. Where do I wanna go from here? And it's not only charting a course for their , future, but also realizing that. You know, you get off the, the turnpike, , your journey is, is not straight. You get off, you take a rest stop. You get back on, , you go on a county road.

Christina McAnuff: That's a good main analogy. So, . You know, it's really about being able to say that even when you take those detours and turns, that you can still be living in alignment, with your values and your vision. And so helping them practice that, particularly as they to this really important transition from high school to, you know, post-secondary life, 

Elise Kiely: their next [00:10:00] chapter, their next chapter, whether it be a four year college, a two year community college, a trade school, military, 

Christina McAnuff: working a gap year. 

Elise Kiely: Yes, a hundred percent. Any and all of those. And you know, we started this, and I probably should have introduced first that this organization was founded by Senator Olympia Snow, who is a long serving senator from the state of Maine who retired in.

Christina McAnuff: So she publicly announced she was leaving the US Senate in 2012 and her last few days were in early 2013, 2013,

Elise Kiely: and so well respected and you will see the senator. I see the senator in the grocery store or at the dry cleaner. I see her all over town. How, involved is she in the organization? 

Christina McAnuff: Her fingerprints are all over the program and you know, every year she carves out time to ensure that she can be there for the two in-person events we have with Olympia's leaders and I, it is. 

Christina McAnuff: I love kind of [00:11:00] being a fly on the wall in the background and seeing her interact with Olympia's leaders and how not only did they come alive, you know, they know they're in the presence of greatness, if you will. Mm-hmm. But she does too, like she knows that they are the hope of our future, our state, and I think it is just, it's a gift that she gets to see in action.

Elise Kiely: And I don't know if a lot of people know her story, that Senator' story, it's an incredibly impressive, impactful story. And the fact that she, I think is particularly. Position to reach out to these young girls and, if you haven't heard her story, I urge listeners go do a little research on Senator Snow, regardless of your political affiliation. I think you will be impressed with her personal story. And, and if I can, I don't know if I've ever told you this. I was at a fundraiser for something and I don't even think it was for Olympia Snow. I think it was another community service organization, and the senator was. There and I [00:12:00] was leaving because I'm an early bird and she was just arriving and of course she had lots of people around her and I had an opportunity to introduce myself to her and I have introduced myself to her a couple of times and I said, Senator I am an Olympia, no leadership advisor, and we can talk more about that in a minute. So I go and I help mentor these young girls and I introduced myself and told her that I was an OLA and where I, where I served and it was.

Elise Kiely: It was amazing, the attention that she gave me. She immediately focused on me. And wanted to hear more about the curriculum, the impact it was having. She wanted to hear about my girls, my Olympia leaders, and you could tell the intensity with which she cares about this organization. This is not just put your name to something and forget it.

Christina McAnuff: She is heavily invested in the success of these young girls at a personal level, I think, and, and it's genuine. Like when she was talking to you and I remember the day because [00:13:00] I think I showed up even later than Senator did. Yes, she did. , but you know, she, she cares so much and when she's speaking to you, whether it's about the institute or something else, you, you are the only person in the world.

Christina McAnuff: She is. She is focused on you, and it is completely authentic and that is something that is woven into the program. Like how do you listen to people and really listen, not so that you can respond to what they say. , rather, you could really take in what they're sharing with you, and that's what she does.

Christina McAnuff: You can call it radical listening or meaningful listening. She does it. She has that skill in spades. She totally does. 

Elise Kiely: And her eyes were, were locked on me. I just, I was so impressed by that. So we've talked about the curriculum, the values, voice and vision, and my girls now are seniors, so this is our vision year, which which is such a great topic for their senior year as they're starting to transition out of high [00:14:00] school. And I can see the excitement, nervousness, a little bit of anxiety, and having this vision concept I think has been very helpful in keeping the Olympia leaders grounded and looking to their next chapter, which I think reduces some of the anxiety and, and concern.

Elise Kiely: And when I share with people. That I'm an Olympia leader, advisor, and I talk about the program. Invariably I hear, I wish they had that for my daughter. I wish they would bring this to my child's school. Or why don't they do it for the whole class? It's such a great program. Can you speak a little bit about why it is limited was limited to five and now I guess six, , per grade and why we're not in every school in the state.

Christina McAnuff: So I'll get the tough part out of the way first, which is we're not in every school in the state because this is a resource and I'm talking about human resource heavy model where two caring trained women, [00:15:00] are matched with a group of now six students for three years. And so when you think about 37 schools, we need 74 advisors each spring to match with the incoming class.

Christina McAnuff: And, that's a lot of people. So at any given time, we have like right now, 550 Olympia leaders that are active in the program and 220 Olympia leaders advisors. So what's that? If I'm doing my math correctly, 770 people. Not to mention the school contacts, the, , facilitators that we bring in for events, guest speakers that engage with each class.

Christina McAnuff: And so that is a lot of people. And in. In a big state, we're not all just in greater Portland geographicly diverse. Right? So we have people that are, you know. Let's see, five hours north in Presk Isle and you know, not quite an hour south in York County. And so, and everyone is an individual, so at any given [00:16:00] time, an Olympia leader could have a question or struggle with something or, you know, reach out for help, which is something we encourage them to do. And similarly, advisors are looking for, guidance. Like, I have an Olympia leader who is struggling with this. What is my role? How can I best support this student right now? And so part of it is it's resource heavy and that also costs money when you are going to train women. And that's something we take very seriously because these are humans we are dealing with.

Christina McAnuff: Olympia's leaders are are humans. They're complex as we are. And let's be honest, it is really tough to be a teenager right now. And so training women to be mentors, we want to set them up for success. Mm-hmm. And. You know, believe it or not, I think sometimes the advisors or the mentors are just as nervous on day one as Olympia's leaders.

Elise Kiely: And I [00:17:00] couldn't agree more.

Elise Kiely: A hundred percent. And you know, it struck me as you were talking, Christina, so much of the success. Or, in my experience has been the deep relationship that I've formed with what I refer to as my girls. Mm-hmm. But the young ladies that are the Olympia leaders in the school, where I've been assigned.

Elise Kiely: And it would be very hard to have that personal connection if there were two leadership advisors to 10, 15, 20, let alone a hundred young girls, you would dilute the impact 

Christina McAnuff: You would. And, getting back to the question you asked in the course of an hour, which is the time you and Timmy invest each month when you really want to have Olympia's leaders share their voices, engage with one another, ask questions, share their insights, , more than six people. It, means that people, are not going to be heard. There's not going to be space for everyone to, to speak up. Mm-hmm. So that is [00:18:00] another, it's very intentional. . But I would say that if Senator Snow we're sitting right here, she would say, Elise, I want to go deeper in schools. I want to expand to more schools.

Christina McAnuff: And it's a question of, , what we can do to raise the funds to make that happen. 

Elise Kiely: Right. This is a great segue to the second point I wanted to raise. So we have such diversity in the ethnicity, the local town, the homes of the Olympia leaders. Geographically speaking, how do you maintain consistency and this tight culture, this network of these young girls and the leadership advisors?

Christina McAnuff: So I think the consistency is important when it comes to , the process by which we select or adults nominate Olympia's leaders and, the training for advisors and the curriculum. that said, we have to be flexible and, I hope our advisors [00:19:00] know that they have , the green light. To be flexible because every school has a different culture.

Christina McAnuff: Every community has a different culture. And you know, if we think about what happened more than a year ago now in Lewiston, we needed the advisors who were not only at Lewiston High School, but in Androscoggin County, , to be able to say, you know what? This month we're not going to, we're not going to go through this lesson or this activity.

Christina McAnuff: We really wanna be here to listen to what you are feeling and allow you to kind of sit in this really tough time. And so that's where some customization comes in. Mm-hmm. But to ensure to the extent possible consistency in the delivery of the curricul. We walk through the guides, we create guides for, every monthly meeting and it has links to additional information. It has debrief questions so that after an activity, the advisors [00:20:00] have the information they need to really get into what happened and before the month. Kristin Ryan, who's our program director, will host zooms to walk through those activities and answer questions that advisors have before they're in front of their Olympia leaders, 

Elise Kiely: And those monthly zoom calls are so important and it takes the burden off of the mentors, the leadership advisors of trying to come up with an activity or trying to create a program for the day. It's, it's really plug and play and the flexibility is super important. So some of my girls live in the community where this happened, and, that was a moment that was a very scary moment, and we needed the time to let them talk and to make sure that they were safe. I remember that night we have a text string going on with our group and there were lots of texts going around.

Elise Kiely: Thank you for listening to this first of a two-part [00:21:00] interview with Christina Macoff, executive director of the Olympia Snow Leadership Institute, where we explored the institute's mission to build confidence and leadership skills and Maine High School girls through a curricul in their sophomore through senior years.

Elise Kiely: Christina explained why they need to limit the program to five and now six girls in a cohort in each of the three grades because of the need for human capital to provide volunteer mentorship for the girls in the different high schools and the direct relationship that's formed and developed between the high school girl leaders and their leadership advisors and the need to grow as they attract more volunteers and donations.

Elise Kiely: We also talked about the program's ability to be flexible in their curriculum, to pivot when there are current events such as the Lewiston shooting that happened little over a year ago, giving [00:22:00] the girls space to share their thoughts and feelings. 

Elise Kiely: Thank you for joining us on Elegant Maine Living, and remember if you are dreaming of a lifestyle in Maine or already living it, this podcast is for you.

Elise Kiely: Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. And I invite you to take this journey with me. Please share it with your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. I would love a review and welcome feedback and encourage you to reach out with questions or topics you would like to hear about. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or simply an email to elise@elisekiely.com, and all of those links will be in the show notes.

Elise Kiely: And remember, this podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, and does not create an attorney-client, or real estate advisory relationship. I am happy to engage if you have any questions or if I can help in your real [00:23:00] estate journey, simply click on the links in the show notes to contact me through social media or email.

Elise Kiely: I am always happy to help in any way that I can, and we welcome you to come and explore Maine. Thank you for listening to Elegant Main Living, where elegance isn't just an aesthetic, it's a way of life. Until next time, keep living with elegance.