Five Years of WE Brunch: Confronting Persistent Barriers to Women’s Equity
Article By: Casey Harrison, Polished Strategic Communications
Photo Credit: Vanessa Soto, The Rare Wav
This October marks the fifth anniversary of the Women’s Equity Brunch (WE Brunch), a gathering born from the determination to create a safe and intentional space for women to connect, uplift one another, and demand the equity that has too often been denied. Founded by Amanda L. Bonilla and Doneisha Posey, WE Brunch has evolved from a bold idea into a movement that brings together women across industries, generations, and diverse lived experiences.
But WE Brunch has never been about celebration alone. It is also a call to accountability. Despite women comprising more than half the population and nearly half the workforce, the systems that govern our workplaces, institutions, and government continue to be dominated by men. The inequities women face are not accidental; they are entrenched, persistent, and perpetuated by those who hold the power to change them but too often refuse.
“Five years ago, we wanted to do more than host another networking event,” says Bonilla. “We wanted to create a space where women could connect with one another to be seen and heard, where we could speak honestly about the barriers in front of us—and then strategize on how to break them down together with women in our community.”
A Snapshot of Inequity
The data speaks volumes about the unfinished work of women’s equity:
Representation in Leadership:
Women make up 47% of the U.S. workforce but hold only 10.4% of Fortune 500 CEO roles. In Indiana’s legislature, women hold just 27% of seats, compared to 32.7% nationally (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Women CEO Report). Executive leadership in corporations, universities, and civic organizations tells a similar story: men continue to dominate decision-making positions.
Pay Gaps:
On average, women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. The disparities deepen for women of color: Black women earn 69 cents, Latinas 57 cents, and Native American women 55 cents (PEW Research Center, Government Accountability Office). The impact compounds over a lifetime, with women losing out on hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—of dollars in earnings.
Male-Dominated Industries:
In construction, women account for less than 11% of the workforce; in engineering, just 16%. In the tech industry, the share of women in technical roles has remained around 25% for years, indicating little progress (McKinsey & Company).
Board Representation:
Only 30% of corporate board seats in the U.S. are held by women, meaning that key decisions about corporate strategy, workforce policies, and community investments are still largely shaped without women’s voices (Philanthropy Roundtable).
For Bonilla, these statistics aren’t abstract; they represent the daily realities women live. “We are constantly patiently waiting our turn or burning ourselves out to prove ourselves with little to no movement in advancement in salaries and seniority. Meanwhile, the majority of men in power continue to reap the benefits of a system that privileges them,” she says.
Ignored, Interrupted, and Overlooked
Beyond the numbers, women in male-dominated industries face cultural and structural barriers that make advancement a daunting task. Many describe being the only woman in the room, having their ideas dismissed until repeated by a male colleague, or being underestimated despite their credentials.
“Women are constantly navigating work environments that weren’t designed for them,” says Bonilla. “We have to work harder, produce more, and be better—just to access half the opportunities our male counterparts are handed automatically. That reality is not just unfair; it’s unsustainable.”
The persistence of these barriers reflects not a lack of talent or ambition among women, but the unwillingness of those in power to address them. Executive roles, legislative seats, and board chairs are still overwhelmingly occupied by men—many of whom minimize or outright ignore calls for equity.
“When men in positions of power dismiss these inequities as exaggerated or irrelevant, they send a message: your experiences don’t matter. Your progress isn’t a priority,” Bonilla explains. “That’s why WE Brunch exists. It’s a space where women don’t have to justify their struggles or shrink themselves. We come together to be validated, celebrated, and mobilized. Creating a network of support that lasts beyond the brunch.”
Five Years of Building Community
Since its first convening, WE Brunch has evolved into more than an annual brunch. It is an intentional curated community of solidarity, mentorship, and mobilization. Each year, women from across Central Indiana gather not only to celebrate but also to strategize—sharing resources, amplifying each other’s voices, and building a network of accountability.
The brunch has hosted women across industries—from business leaders to educators, healthcare professionals to public servants—each bringing perspectives that enrich the collective. For younger women, it has been a chance to find mentors and role models. For seasoned leaders, it has been an opportunity to share hard-won lessons and remind the next generation that their paths, though difficult, are possible.
“WE Brunch is about inspiration, yes, but it’s also about activation,” Bonilla emphasizes. “We want women to leave with not just motivation, but with tools, with connections, and with a renewed sense of power to demand better.”
The Cost of Inaction
Failing to address inequity isn’t just harmful to women—it’s harmful to our economy and our communities. Research from McKinsey & Company has shown that companies with greater gender diversity in leadership are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability. Similarly, legislative bodies with more women representatives have been found to prioritize issues like healthcare, education, and family policy—issues that affect entire communities.
By ignoring women’s equity, Indiana and the U.S. miss out on innovation, economic growth, and inclusive policy-making.
“We can’t afford to treat equity as optional or aspirational,” says Bonilla. “Equity is essential. It makes workplaces stronger, economies more competitive, and communities more resilient.”
As WE Brunch celebrates five years, its mission remains urgent and unfinished. The barriers women face—whether in boardrooms, construction sites, or statehouses—are still deeply entrenched. The question is whether leaders, especially the men who currently hold most positions of power, will continue to ignore these realities or take meaningful steps to change them.
Bonilla is clear: “Change will not happen if we wait for permission. Women cannot sit back and hope that those in power will suddenly decide equity matters. We must demand it, organize for it, and build it ourselves. And we need our allies—especially men—to step up and use their power to dismantle the very systems that have benefited them for generations.”
The anniversary of WE Brunch is a milestone, but it is also a challenge. A challenge to business leaders to create equitable workplaces. A challenge to elected officials to pass policies that close gaps instead of widening them. A challenge to communities to recognize that women’s equity is not just a women’s issue—it is everyone’s issue.
Five years in, WE Brunch continues to provide the space, the solidarity, and the spark. But the work of equity remains ahead.
Tickets, tables, and sponsorship for the October WE Brunch are available online at webrunchindy.com.