Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | 701 Whaley | Columbia, SC

V.I.P. Reception – 6:00 PM | Dinner & Awards – 7:00–8:30 PM

Join us as we recognize and celebrate all the brave South Carolina women who have stepped forward to seek elective (win or lose) and appointive office. The Leading Women Dinner honors women who have blazed trails in civic leadership so that others may follow and builds a support network to encourage women to vie for civic leadership roles.

The event includes a V.I.P. reception, open beer and wine bar, seated dinner, and awards for women in local and statewide elective and appointive office who have devoted themselves to community service, demonstrated a commitment to working across party lines, and whose civic work has improved the quality of life for all South Carolinians. View photos or videos from the event here.

Awards

SC WIL will present honorees with the following awards:
See all previous award winners here. 

Leadership Legacy Award
Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Head Coach

We are pleased to announce Coach Dawn Staley—Olympic gold medalist, championship-winning coach, and tireless advocate for gender equity—will be honored for her extraordinary accomplishments with our Leadership Legacy Award at the 2025 Leading Woman Dinner on September 23rd. The Leadership Legacy Award celebrates a woman who has made a lasting positive impact on South Carolina by blazing new trails in leadership, embodying the principles of altruism, empathy, and collaboration, and uplifting the women leaders who follow in their footsteps.

Coach Staley’s story is one of determination, vision, and unwavering commitment to lifting others. Her legacy extends far beyond the basketball court. She has inspired countless women—especially those from underrepresented communities—to step confidently into leadership roles and to lead with both strength and compassion.

As she shares in her book Uncommon Favor, the principles that have fueled her journey mirror SC WIL’s own mission: empowering South Carolina women to step into civic leadership roles. When women are empowered, supported, and seen, they don’t just succeed—they transform their communities.

By leading with authenticity, conviction and courage, Coach Staley has redefined the limits of what is possible for women leaders:

Resilience & Determination: From her beginnings in North Philadelphia to leading the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team to national championships, Staley has modeled perseverance in the face of obstacles, including sexism and isolation. Her journey is proof that grit and vision can overcome barriers.
Paying It Forward: Staley attributes her success to gratitude and the support of those who invested in her growth. She has made it her mission to mentor, guide, and open doors for the next generation of women leaders—both on and off the court.
Equity & Representation: Never shying away from difficult conversations, Staley speaks powerfully about the importance of equity, inclusion, and ensuring that Black women are given the same opportunities to lead and thrive.
Learning from Struggles: For Staley, setbacks are not roadblocks but vital lessons that refine character and leadership skills. She demonstrates how to turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

Founder Award
Barbara Rackes, Former WIL CEO and Past Board President

On the 10 year anniversary of the inception of SC Women in Leadership, the Founder Award honors the extraordinary vision and lasting impact of Barbara Rackes, whose dedication to gender equality laid the foundation for our organization. 

Her tenacity and determination have moved the needle for women’s equality in South Carolina. Without her courage and persistence, SC Women in Leadership would not exist at this critical moment in our democracy. Barbara’s character can be summed up in three words: entrepreneurial, tenacious, and resolute.

Whether in business, on nonprofit boards, or mentoring future leaders, she has never wavered in her commitment to leveling the playing field. Her guiding belief is that the rights women have today are not immutable and we have an ongoing responsibility to defend and expand them.

In the early 1980s, Barbara entered the business world at a time when female entrepreneurs were scarce in the Midlands. Obstacles were everywhere: lenders demanded her father’s approval to gain credit and a signed promise to take contraceptives for mortgage approval. Rather than allowing those limits to hold her back, Barbara used them to fuel her professional success and activism.

She built Rackes, a thriving women’s apparel company that grew into a multi-million-dollar enterprise and became a model for employing and uplifting women. Later, she expanded her influence through The Rackes Group, strengthening her role as a business leader and advocate.

Still, Barbara knew economic success wasn’t the finish line. Sustained progress requires women’s voices in government, where the laws that govern our daily lives are made. She convened a circle of twelve women who shared her vision for equal representation. From that gathering, SC Women in Leadership was born. For a decade, Barbara made SC WIL her primary professional focus as CEO, Board President, and the organization’s most generous individual donor.

Her fingerprints are on every success WIL has achieved. The Founder Award honors a lifetime of breaking barriers and creating opportunities. Every right we have gained has been hard-won, and they can be easily lost. We look to her example and ask how we can honor her legacy by expanding the work she started.

Rising Star Award
Michelle Brandt, Vice Chair of the Charleston County Parks Commission

The Rising Star Award celebrates a young civic leader under 45 years old who embodies positivity, resilience, and a commitment to bringing South Carolinians together in a challenging political climate. This year’s honoree, Michelle Brandt, exemplifies every dimension of this recognition.

Michelle is an award-winning civic leader whose life and work demonstrate an unwavering commitment to service. As Vice Chair of the Charleston County Parks Commission, she has brought expertise in environmental science together with lived experience as a mother of three, to ensure that South Carolina families have access to safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces that foster community.

Her leadership extends beyond her commission work. Michelle served as the 3rd Vice Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, where she emphasized collaboration and bridge-building. She has also courageously stepped into the electoral arena, running for the state house in 2022 and again in a special election this year. Michelle’s willingness to step forward, even when victory was uncertain, reflects the resilience and commitment that define a true Rising Star.

In addition to her elected and appointed service, Michelle is a tireless volunteer. She is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her work in food distributions and with the Charleston Animal Society, and she continues to inspire through her role as co-facilitator of the Charleston Chapter of the Chamber of Mothers. Her involvement with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Charleston Area Justice Ministry further demonstrate her ability to unite people across divides for the greater good.

This year, Michelle stood out not only for her accomplishments, but also for the five separate nominations she received; an unprecedented show of support. Each nomination reflects a different perspective on her leadership, yet all convey one message: Michelle Brandt is a changemaker and a rising star.

Michelle’s selection as the 2025 Rising Star is not only a recognition of her past accomplishments, but also an affirmation of the promise she holds for South Carolina’s future.

Sponsors

The 2025 Leading Women Dinner is sponsored by:

Supporting Sponsors

Aflac | Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina | Carolina Concession, LLC | Duke Energy

Table Sponsors

Abacus Planning Group | American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, SC Section | Benedict College | Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, PA in support of Julie Lumpkin for Columbia City Council | The Campbell Consulting Group | City of Columbia | Civint | Conservation Voters of SC | Kristen Jerome | Allison Dean Love | Nelson Mullins | Planned Parenthood | Barbara Rackes | The Riley Institute at Furman University | SC Education Association | Truist | University of South Carolina, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences