Today’s Woman in the Lens spotlights a conservative businesswoman who has lived the Republican Creed—to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed—Connecticut’s Linda McMahon running for the US Senate. Palladian View does not endorse in contested primaries, but this grandmother of 6 who has been married to her husband for 45 years is an example of “Building leaders of tomorrow by empowering women today.”
“Traditional” is not a word that readily comes to mind when Linda McMahon’s name is mentioned, but neither are the problems this country faces. McMahon is originally from North Carolina—she married her high school sweetheart Vince and they both scrimped and saved to work their way through college. She talks about saving enough change to go to a movie as a treat during those days. She received her degree in French from East Carolina University.
What this former CEO of the WWE—a company that she grew from 13 employees to a global enterprise with over 600 employees—brings to the race is a reputation as a top business executive who knows how to create jobs. Yes, the WWE is an icon in the entertainment industry, combining athleticism with drama, a little of the spectacular with a lot of the outrageous, but in the economics of “supply and demand,” they certainly know how to draw a crowd—both at the arena and on Pay-Per-View. The company helped launch some really big wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson who have gone on to have successful careers in television and movies.
With all of the media focus for Linda McMahon being turned to her career, Palladian View would like to draw attention to her work in the community. The WWE partnered with the youth division of the American Library Association to present Reading Challenge—a program that promoted literacy in communities across the country. She was appointed to the board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of WWE’s exceptional efforts. The USO gave WWE the Legacy of Hope Award in honor of Bob Hope for their support of the troops. Linda McMahon was appointed by Governor Rell to the Connecticut Board of Education. She serves on the boards of Sacred Heart University and the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to educate and inspire young people to participate in our democracy. Since stepping down as CEO, through her family’s foundation, she has supported Connecticut causes that promote entrepreneurship and education.
To learn more about Linda McMahon, go to her web site, or check her out on Facebook.
With only 17 women in the US Senate, and just 5 of them Republican, Palladian View is pleased to showcase Linda McMahon—a conservative woman business leader and philanthropist.
