Seven Top Opportunities for Utah Girls and Women

In this episode, Dr. Susan Madsen explores a 2026 research brief from the Utah Women & Leadership Project: Seven Top Opportunities for Utah Girls and Women: A 2026 Update. Building on insights from more than 5,200 Utahns, including over 3,500 written responses, this conversation highlights where Utahns see the greatest potential for women and girls today. Because the same questions were asked in 2023 and 2024 studies, this updated report using data from 2025 reveals what’s emerging, what’s expanding, and how opportunities across the state continue to evolve. Dr. Madsen is joined by Dr. April Townsend to discuss the trends, possibilities, and momentum shaping the lives of Utah women and girls.

Guests

Dr. April Townsend 
Research Fellow, Utah Women & Leadership Project
Co‑author — Seven Top Opportunities for Utah Girls and Women: A 2026 Update  

Download the full 2026 research brief HERE.

Visit the Utah Women & Leadership Project website.

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Transcript

Dr. Susan Madsen 0:02

Welcome back to the Utah Women and Leadership Podcast. As we continue our new season, we're shifting from challenges to possibilities, exploring one of our newest research briefs, Seven Top Opportunities for Utah Girls and Women, a 2026 update. If our first episode focused on what holds women and girls back, this episode highlights what can move them forward. Every year, thousands of Utahans share their perspectives with us, and their voices reveal something essential. Opportunity is not abstract, it's lived, it's local, and it's evolving. Understanding where opportunities already exist and where they can be strengthened is key to building momentum for meaningful change. So in 2025, more than 5,200 Utah's completed our statewide survey, and over 3,500 wrote in their own words what they see as the greatest opportunity for girls and women. Because we asked the same questions in 2023, this report lets us see what's emerging, what's expanding, and where Utahns believe the most potential lies. Today we're going to walk through those findings together. I'm Dr. Susan Madsen, professor of leadership within extension at Utah State University. I'm also the founding director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project and the founder of A Bolder Way Forward. And once again, I'm joined by my colleague and friend, Dr. April Townsend, co-author of this report and research fellow with the UWLP. April, welcome back.

Dr. April Townsend 1:42

Thank you. Always a pleasure.

Dr. Susan Madsen 1:46

It's going to be interesting to talk about what, you know, especially comparing the challenges, what we did on our last episode, and now the opportunities. But before I go there, I just wanted to ask you, I mean, why is exploring challenges and opportunities so interesting to you?

Dr. April Townsend 2:08

You know, I we all have our own ideas of what may be a challenge or an opportunity. And I think it's really helpful to do this research to find out, okay, so cumulatively, what is the sense in our community of what is a challenge for Utah women and girls? But then also conversely, how can we make that an opportunity to be able to grow and develop and focus resources to reduce how much of a challenge it's holding back, women and girls, and instead move them forward?

Dr. Susan Madsen 2:37

Oh, thank you so much. Now I'm looking at number one. So so again, the title is seven top opportunities. So the last one was 11 challenges. So, but there was more consensus. There were so many people that that did, you know, complete this, over 3,000, you know, completed this. And the last challenge that was mentioned in the last report was training and education. And guess what? Number one, most Utahns 1,186. So so 34% of people that made c-- or the comments uh were about education and training. So that's really interesting. It's a barrier, but people saw it as an opportunity as well. Give us some of your thoughts as you think about those two.

Dr. April Townsend 3:29

You know, I it's it's one of those areas where if you do know that it's a challenge, you can flip it around and say, okay, so how can we use this? Um, how can we encourage women and girls to get education, to get training? What are the things that are happening? And we can help make them aware of it and support them in whether it's pursuing perhaps a non-traditional um area, or maybe it's helping to find how to access, you know, low-cost tuition or free tuition, perhaps through scholarships. So it really does show that how how we can take a challenge and flip it on its head and make it an opportunity.

Dr. Susan Madsen 4:09

And to me, it shows that I mean, a lot over 1,100 people made these comments as some of their top comments in this category. And what that shows is a lot of Utahns understand the power of education. Yes, and that is key. And some, you know, they commented about lots of different things, uh, including uh the need for financial assistance. We see that every time we, and it's so true, or low cost or free tuition. There's comments about that, and that's always on people's minds. Not every Utahn, but a lot of Utahns, because of the cost of living. It takes a lot of funding to just stay alive and have the basics, right? Let alone have education. But I do think a lot of people know that there's a link between future earning potential and education. What else did you see?

Dr. April Townsend 5:11

Yeah, I really liked um that there were some comments that um were shared. And one I'd like to point out is the education of girls and young women is key. Through education, women have the opportunity to rethink outdated roles and paradigms so they can come to see themselves as powerful agents. I really like the the um empowerment component that and the confidence. What we uh talked in the previous uh episode on challenges about that lack of confidence and how education can perhaps be a tool to help women and girls gain that.

Dr. Susan Madsen 5:44

And I I want to make a comment here because I think this is so important. When we talk about these things, there are some people, not all, some people that say, well, what you're trying to do is get women out of the home into the workplace and so forth, but powerful agents it for women can be in any setting, including your local congregation of you know, religious or being in the home as well. Um you know, there's I just think this is not one or the other. There's an 'and' here.

Dr. April Townsend 6:16

Absolutely, absolutely.

Dr. Susan Madsen 6:18

There's some great uh quotes, but they all really focus on how important education is. And, you know, we have always have women that are divorced or whatever and and didn't really finish degrees and are saying, you know, I just thought life would be good and I would, you know, be have be um taken care of or whatever, and then they realize um they can go back, but some of them are like disappointed that they didn't have that up front to really help them with all their more of their full life.

Dr. April Townsend 6:54

Any other questions? I mean, life happens, yeah, life happens and we don't always know. And so I think people, like you said, do have um an understanding that being prepared for the future can can really help them. And part of being prepared for the future is an education or a training that if you need to rely on it, you have that there.

Dr. Susan Madsen 7:14

Yeah. And education and training about uh your own kids and being a parent. It's complicated being a parent. And I'll tell you with one of my children, I'm still learning. Uh he's an adult now, but I mean, uh, you know, still learning about mental health. I've it's pushed me into a situation of looking at resources and mental health. So it's an ongoing thing. Um, uh, the second most frequently identified opportunity for Utah women and girls related to work and employment opportunities. So about 29%, that's uh over 900 people made comments about that. Many felt Utah employers could do more to provide women with equal access to work and advancement, that leadership. And then, of course, the pay comes up here as well, right? And there's other things as well. Um, give me some of your thoughts about what you saw as you did the analysis here.

Dr. April Townsend 8:14

Yeah, I really saw that the first one that talked about education and training, and the second one talking about work and employment opportunities really kind of supported one another. Um, and I think in this area, people are seeing that there are opportunities for employers to create more family-friendly workplaces. So creating policies that can support parents, both, you know, men and women, um, and offering parental leave, schedule flexibility was very uh frequently mentioned, as was on-site childcare. And so being more proactive, there's an opportunity for businesses to create an environment where folks can succeed. Yeah.

Dr. Susan Madsen 8:57

And there's always uh people that are real proponents of STEM careers, and that's good to mention. I I know some people say, well, people talk about STEM all the time. There's other careers as well. And that's so true. Uh, these STEM careers are are often high paying and they're great. Uh, we still need good public school teachers, uh, healthcare uh workers. Uh there's a shortage of a lot of those as well, but that's important. Um so about 21%, 667 people uh responded on a category we've termed embrace potential. And so that was a lot of people who were encouraging, you know, felt like girls and women, they need to embrace their potential by believing in themselves, acknowledging their abilities, and taking control of their own destiny. April, I I I'm not looking at the chart right now, but uh, did that emerge as one of the themes two years ago as well?

Dr. April Townsend 10:01

It was also ranked third two years ago.

Dr. Susan Madsen 10:04

Okay! What are some um thoughts that you have? There were some great quotes in this section.

Dr. April Townsend 10:10

There really are. And I think this uh when participants responded to to in this area, they talked about encouraging women and girls to use their voice to speak up for what they want. And that it encourages women to become financially literate, particularly with their own finances, so that they can be self-sufficient if necessary. And it really does emphasize that um there's a lot of opportunities here to support women and girls and helping them really embrace what they can become. We um at one point we do also talk about them becoming entrepreneurs and starting their own businesses, and so having the confidence to achieve whatever they want in life.

Dr. Susan Madsen 10:51

Yeah. You know, I I always feel mixed when I hear comments like that. There's a comment on women and girls can do whatever they want to do if they put their minds to it, even despite pushback. Or another one, I think the sky is the limit for both uh girls and women. Um, and I don't know if we analyzed if if some of those comments came from men or women, but oftentimes I've heard them come from men who really are not aware of the systemic issues. And so, yes, there's a piece of confidence and self-worth and putting our minds to it. Yet there's a lot of people that do. And and and both of us have had issues in workplace or different things where these systemic issues really um do a number, right? Uh the system allows people to bully or harass or whatever it might be. And so I always have a mixed feeling when I'm thinking about the rah-rah, just go, just put your mind to it, just do it, versus uh, you know, it's all that that can make a difference for women in instead of yes, that's one piece, yet there are others. Is my pushback um okay? I mean, not okay, but it's my pushback. I I know you get what I'm talking about.

Dr. April Townsend 12:16

You know, I think it's a realistic view. I mean, it's one thing to say, yeah, go and do whatever you want, but there's some real, there's some legitimate barriers. Um, there are expectations that are placed on women that you have to work through. Um, the one thing I thought was interesting is when we talk about go and do whatever you you want, but you're getting this pushback and maybe bias and discrimination at work. How many women turn to starting their own businesses and becoming entrepreneurs because they don't want to put up with that anymore? Um one woman even said, I am now a business owner, and the liberating feeling of being able to be in control of my own destiny is something that's been life-changing for me. I only wish I'd done it sooner. I love that. I think that shows how women are fed up of some of that that they're dealing with in a traditional workplace. And so they just pull themselves out and say, you know what, I'm not gonna deal with that anymore. And they have whatever vision that is for them to move forward as an entrepreneur. Not that that's easy either. There's challenges there, but at least, like this woman um indicated, that liberating feeling of being in control of your own destiny. That's powerful.

Dr. Susan Madsen 13:21

And what I love in Utah is that we all we really have resources, and so many people still don't know that there are resources here in Utah that are incredible that help women start businesses. In fact, we are we have all kinds of child care issues right here in the state. And just in the last couple of weeks, I've had a couple of women say to me, Hey, my sister-in-law or my neighbor or whatever, they're thinking about starting a child care business, but they don't know how to get started. And they don't, and I'm like, oh my gosh, tell them to contact the Women's Business Center of Utah, which has free resources, free um coaching, uh, very low-cost some training, some training free. Um, and then there's uh SPDCs, um, small business development centers around in every county. Um, and they're within USU extension. Um, so there are resources um to give us a real good shot. But I love your comments or the the comments that you read. So many women have have told us in the research, but me personally and probably you too, how empowering it is to have their own business and and their own hours and not the crap. Um maybe, maybe I shouldn't have used that word, but I do like that word. Crap.

Dr. April Townsend 14:42

Sometimes it's appropriate though!

Dr. Susan Madsen 14:44

It is appropriate sometimes! Okay. And then interestingly, um, in the challenges, I can't remember where it was ranked. We talked about the shortage of women in leadership. And then this one, category four, in the opportunities, that's an opportunity that we have as a state for more women to be in leadership and public office. Did this one focus? So that was 516. So no small number here. I mean, that's a big number. Um did did you see more about the politics here or a mix of women and leadership in all different kinds of roles?

Dr. April Townsend 15:25

You know, I I would say about half and half. So there were a lot that did talk on um leadership in the political sphere, but there was also a lot of talking about female role models and being role models for both girls and boys. So boys can see women in power, see them leading, and not think it's a one-off, not think it's you know, inappropriate or whatever. They it becomes normalized. And so having more women in leadership, whether it be in your community, whether it be in, you know, your your uh political environment, whatever that may be, having women and and the importance of women having power and using their voices, that was something that folks saw across the board that could benefit um both young girls and well and women and men.

Dr. Susan Madsen 16:15

U h thank you so much. So, one of the quotes said sharing the achievements of Utah women who have surmounted obstacles and may encourage others to fearlessly go forward to their goals. Um, I love that. One thing that came to mind that I'm smiling a little bit about is um is there really is a difference in the workplace. You have to kind of tout your accomplishments to have people notice. And um, what the research has said through the years is bragging is different for men and women. Men can brag, and and people are like, oh, that's just men, and they accept that. But when women brag, we have to be careful because it comes across as breaking social norms.

Dr. April Townsend 16:58

Yes.

Dr. Susan Madsen 16:59

But when this research study I read several years ago said the best thing, and this one was about political. When women brag about other women, it doesn't break any social norms. Isn't that interesting?

Dr. April Townsend 17:13

That is interesting, but I think it's a powerful and it's a good opportunity for women to call out the achievements of other women. If if that's socially where we're at, let's let's use that, I guess. Um, but it should we also need to normalize it's okay for women to share their their successes as well.

Dr. Susan Madsen 17:32

Yeah, but but we unconsciously kind of push back, and not just men, women do too. And I've taught myself like, wow, she's kind of bragging as not a good thing. And then I'm like, would I do that if men, if men were bragging? No. So get get rid of that. Um so the the fifth of seven categories is support for personal choices. I really love this one because uh I've had stay-at-home moms and I've been a stay-at-home mom, um, say, I feel my choice to stay at home with my kids. And the ones that I've really heard from are engaged in the community as well or other church groups. They're they're doing multiple things, but they feel kind of judged um by other women, by or ignored sometimes by by men when men are talking, they're like, oh, she doesn't know what she's talking about because she's just a stay-at-home mom. That's what they feel and are perceiving. Um, but personal choices to work full-time, personal choices for everything. So, what are a few thoughts in that category? Yeah, uh, there's a lot of quotes that you pulled out uh when you were going through the the analysis in this category.

Dr. April Townsend 18:44

Yeah, and I I do think it's important to respect choice and also really understand that there is an assumption that every woman wants the same thing for her future, and that is just incorrect. Every woman is different, every woman's circumstances are different, and being able to support that personal choice, whether it is staying home, whether it is working, whether it's a combination of the two. Um, and or you know, it it doesn't have to be just one thing. And so those gendered expectations that we've talked about on the challenges side, I think this is a counter to that to say we have opportunities to support whatever choice women and girls want.

Dr. Susan Madsen 19:28

Thank you. And the category six, really, the sixth most frequently mentioned category related to opportunity to increase um really related to we have an opportunity to increase awareness and access to available resources and support. And I just mentioned the Women's Business Center of Utah. There's other groups as well. But over 300 people, I say people, because again, men and women answered this, mentioned that that's really an opportunity. There are resources there. We just have to make sure people know about them, whether they're entrepreneurship, whether they're our um our domestic violence or sexual, you know, shelter or whatever the resource might be. What really struck you when you were um writing this piece after you had done the analysis?

Dr. April Townsend 20:21

You know, I it's a challenge. How do-- we we know that there are resources out there. Um, but how do we communicate that? There's so much information coming at us through social media and other other venues that it really is a challenge of if somebody's looking for something, do they know even where to look or that to ask the question? And so, how how can we do a better job? And that's what I think is a great opportunity for groups, you know, through a bolder way forward, we're bringing similar groups together to try to communicate a joint message. I think it's important that we continue to do that because there is a thirst for that information.

Dr. Susan Madsen 20:57

And one of the quotes, uh April, you remember really a few of them, but one that is noted in the report talks about our high levels of depression and stress. And we're talking about mothers, but we're talking about our kids too.

Dr. April Townsend 21:12

Absolutely.

Dr. Susan Madsen 21:13

You know, we as mothers and hopefully fathers too, we're searching out really good resources for our kids with the mental health. It's a mental health crisis with the suicide rates and various things. There are resources, maybe not perfect, maybe we need more, but there's resources out there, community support groups, um, employer resources as well. Not just, you know, we don't utilize some of those. Um, as I mentioned with my one of my uh adult children who's a single man, um he just didn't want to reach out to resources or whatever. I and I thought I knew a lot, but. I got I dug in and man did I learn a lot more about um what resources in the county level and the state level are there. But there there are resources. We just need to, and you know, I'm one that digs around and researches. So there's a lot of people that just don't know how how to even do that.

Dr. April Townsend 22:20

Yeah, and sorry to interrupt, but if you are struggling, if you are struggling with depression or anxiety, sometimes looking for resources is just beyond where you're at right then. And so also having family and friends be aware of those resources, we can help each other connect to those and hopefully tap into them more.

Dr. Susan Madsen 22:40

Excellent point. And then the last one, I love this connect and work together for change. So 269 Utahns, again, we collected from people in every single county. So this was really the consensus of what, and that's important. I love that. Again, connect and work together for change. I'll throw it to you. What were some insights there?

Dr. April Townsend 23:06

The thing I loved is where they talked about um every connection that we make matters, and how um one focused specifically on how women are lifting one another and they're sharing experiences, they're advocating for change and creating new opportunities that didn't exist before. And so um not only just women, but I would say as a community, to me, this was almost like here's a bolder way forward. This is this is that bringing everybody together and working together for a common goal, for changing some of those challenges that we saw in the other report and being able to support each other and move folks forward.

Dr. Susan Madsen 23:44

Thank you. Uh as we conclude, you know, I'm just grateful that we have been able to at the Utah Women and Leadership Project have some donations that have helped us conduct this study. It's a big study, and and overall, we've had over 5,000 people in two samples do this. And I love that we've been able to spend the time, especially you, doing all that coding, to find out what's on people's minds here in the state of Utah and uh what are both the challenges and now the opportunities and and education. I love that's out there and in all of them, including this last one. Let's let's link together. There's opportunities there to link together, to raise awareness, to do the things that we can make sure that we strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women. Any final thoughts?

Dr. April Townsend 24:37

Um, I would just say it is important for us to continue to listen to um the diverse voices of our community. Um, it impacts uh our policies, the programs that we do, the efforts that we um try to focus on. And so I think this research is so important, Susan, because we do need to keep listening.

Dr. Susan Madsen 24:58

April, thank you so much for joining me today and for helping us unpack these findings. And thank you to Utah Public Radio, USU Extension, and to Nick Poreth for his technical support. At the Utah Women and Leadership Project, our mission is simple and bold: to strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women. If you'd like to explore this topic further or dive into other research resources and upcoming events, visit us at utwomen.org. And if you're ready to become part of the statewide movement to advance women and girls, you can join us at abolderwayforward.org. Thank you for listening and thank you for being part of this work. Have a great day.