{"id":89692,"date":"2025-02-05T14:11:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T14:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/?p=89692"},"modified":"2025-02-28T18:24:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T18:24:41","slug":"leading-with-purpose-tess-troha-thompson-06-on-advocacy-female-empowerment-and-mentorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/2025\/02\/05\/leading-with-purpose-tess-troha-thompson-06-on-advocacy-female-empowerment-and-mentorship\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading with purpose: Tess Troha-Thompson &#8217;06 on advocacy, female empowerment, and mentorship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image=&#8221;89852&#8243; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; box_shadow_on_row=&#8221;no&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;150px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_row_inner row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; type=&#8221;grid&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; box_shadow_on_row=&#8221;no&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1738764556452{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: rgba(24,41,87,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(24,41,87) !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Leading with purpose: Tess Troha-Thompson &#8217;06 on advocacy, female empowerment, and mentorship<\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;150px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;grid&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#7eb1dc&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; box_shadow_on_row=&#8221;no&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"rev-text\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Meet Washington, D.C. Network Leadership Council Member and Women\u2019s Network Co-Chair Tess Troha-Thompson \u201906<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;grid&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; box_shadow_on_row=&#8221;no&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<div class=\"essb_links essb_displayed_shortcode essb_share essb_template_default4-retina essb_template_glow-retina essb_431713710 essb_size_xs essb_links_right print-no\" id=\"essb_displayed_shortcode_431713710\" data-essb-postid=\"89692\" data-essb-position=\"shortcode\" data-essb-button-style=\"button\" data-essb-template=\"default4-retina essb_template_glow-retina\" data-essb-counter-pos=\"hidden\" data-essb-url=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/2025\/02\/05\/leading-with-purpose-tess-troha-thompson-06-on-advocacy-female-empowerment-and-mentorship\/\" data-essb-fullurl=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/2025\/02\/05\/leading-with-purpose-tess-troha-thompson-06-on-advocacy-female-empowerment-and-mentorship\/\" data-essb-instance=\"431713710\"><ul class=\"essb_links_list\"><li class=\"essb_item essb_link_facebook nolightbox essb_link_svg_icon\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rochester.edu%2Fadv%2Falumni-news-media%2F2025%2F02%2F05%2Fleading-with-purpose-tess-troha-thompson-06-on-advocacy-female-empowerment-and-mentorship%2F&t=Leading+with+purpose%3A+Tess+Troha-Thompson+%5C%26%23039%3B06+on+advocacy%2C+female+empowerment%2C+and+mentorship\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" onclick=\"essb.window(&#39;https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rochester.edu%2Fadv%2Falumni-news-media%2F2025%2F02%2F05%2Fleading-with-purpose-tess-troha-thompson-06-on-advocacy-female-empowerment-and-mentorship%2F&t=Leading+with+purpose%3A+Tess+Troha-Thompson+%5C%26%23039%3B06+on+advocacy%2C+female+empowerment%2C+and+mentorship&#39;,&#39;facebook&#39;,&#39;431713710&#39;); 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return false;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"nolightbox essb-s-bg-mail essb-s-c-light essb-s-ch-light essb-s-bgh-dark essb-s-bg-network\" ><span class=\"essb_icon essb_icon_mail\"><svg class=\"essb-svg-icon essb-svg-icon-mail\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\"><polygon points=\"60,50.234 60,9.944 39.482,30.536 \" \/><polygon points=\"0,9.941 0,50.234 20.519,30.535 \" \/><path d=\"M1.387,8.5l21.002,21.08c0.121,0.051,0.471,0.415,0.517,0.519l5.941,5.963c0.635,0.591,1.672,0.59,2.333-0.025l5.911-5.933c0.046-0.105,0.4-0.473,0.522-0.524L58.615,8.5H1.387z\" \/><path d=\"M38.07,31.954l-5.5,5.52c-0.73,0.68-1.657,1.019-2.58,1.019c-0.914,0-1.823-0.332-2.533-0.993l-5.526-5.546L1.569,51.5h56.862L38.07,31.954z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"essb_network_name\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;grid&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; box_shadow_on_row=&#8221;no&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>What Tess is up to now and reflecting on her time at the University<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;15px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_column_text]<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-89822\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/VIPLeadershipHeadshot-108-cropped-300x279.jpg\" alt=\"Tess Troha-Thompson '06 headshot\" width=\"420\" height=\"391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/VIPLeadershipHeadshot-108-cropped-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/VIPLeadershipHeadshot-108-cropped-1024x953.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/VIPLeadershipHeadshot-108-cropped-768x715.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/VIPLeadershipHeadshot-108-cropped-1536x1430.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/VIPLeadershipHeadshot-108-cropped-700x652.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/VIPLeadershipHeadshot-108-cropped.jpg 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Share a bit about yourself and your current endeavors. What excites you most about your work or personal projects?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>After graduating from the URochester, I moved to Chicago and began working in public relations and affairs. In 2008, I leaped into the political world, joining my first campaign as a field organizer in Michigan for a candidate running for Congress. His victory led to another exciting opportunity\u2014I moved to Washington, D.C., to work in his Capitol Hill office.<\/p>\n<p>I spent five years on Capitol Hill in various roles including campaign manager for Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. This was a highlight of my career and personal life, bringing me back to Rochester, where I got to live out my college dream of living near Park Ave. I also LOVE that her professional papers are now archived at UR\u2019s Rush Rhees Special Collections.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2016, I\u2019ve been with New Blue Interactive, a consulting firm focused on progressive digital advertising and fundraising. As Chief of Staff, I lead our team and manage client teams in digital strategy, communications, and fundraising.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m proud to have been named an AAPC 40 Under 40 honoree and included in City &amp; State New York\u2019s 2025 Political Consultants Power 100 List, thanks to my work with clients like Rochester\u2019s Congressman Joe Morelle. My work continues to impact the Rochester community, which has greatly shaped who I am.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What are your most cherished memories from your time at the URochester?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>During my time at the URochester, I was deeply involved in a range of activities, including being a tour guide with Meridian Society, a peer career advisor, president of College Democrats, and performing with OBOC and Chamber Singers. I was fortunate to form lasting friendships, some of which continue to this day, and I\u2019ve built a strong network of mentors and mentees through the University.<\/p>\n<p>The experiences I had, from public speaking to professional development training, significantly shaped my personal and professional growth. The critical thinking skills I developed have helped me think strategically and question assumptions. I\u2019m grateful that my career has allowed me to reconnect with Rochester and the University, helping me see how they fit into the broader community. While I loved my time there, I\u2019m proud to have contributed to strengthening the connection between the University and the city.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;15px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Volunteerism and making an impact<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;15px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What sparked your initial interest in volunteering with the University? What role(s) have you held?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>I\u2019ve been involved as an alumni volunteer since pretty much right after graduation. At first, I did <a href=\"https:\/\/admissions.rochester.edu\/alumni-volunteers\/\">Admissions interviews<\/a> and joined recruitment or admitted student events in Chicago to talk about my experience at the University and was a member of the <a href=\"\/alumni\/stay-connected\/young-alumni\/young-alumni-council\/\">Young Alumni Council<\/a> and our 5-year <a href=\"\/alumni\/stay-connected\/class-volunteers\/\">Reunion committee<\/a>. I even had the opportunity to come back to the University and be on a career panel about getting a job in politics.<\/p>\n<p>When I moved to D.C., my involvement increased, and I added new roles! I have really enjoyed helping grow the <a href=\"\/alumni\/regional-network\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C. Regional Network<\/a> as a member of the Cabinet and as co-founder and co-chair of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/WashingtonDCWomen\">D.C. Women\u2019s Network<\/a>. I think it is so critical to engage alumni at all stages of their lives and in a unique way that is most meaningful to them.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What have been some of your most rewarding and memorable experiences with the D.C. Women\u2019s Network so far?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>My favorite part of leading the D.C. Women\u2019s Network is connecting different generations of grads who can lift each other up, inspire, and offer wisdom. Interestingly it goes both ways! A number of our older alumnae have become really inspired and learned from the younger alumnae as well! And, we all know that, in DC especially, who your \u201cnetwork\u201d is can be a huge part of your ability to advance in your career.<\/p>\n<p>I love that the University can be a part of someone\u2019s life success after college. Working for Rochester\u2019s own female Congresswoman and her role in supporting Rochester, really inspired me to want to continue to be a part of that tradition of female mentorship and it has been such a rewarding experience!<\/p>\n<h4><strong>How has your work in the Washington, D.C. area influenced your approach to mentoring or supporting the next generation of leaders, particularly women?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>In my role as Chief of Staff at New Blue (and throughout my career), I have always valued mentoring as a key part of both my own personal growth and as a way to embody the spirit of Meliora. I have had the opportunity to mentor students as interns, entry-level staff, and as more informal relationships that formed through alumni events, informational interviews, or through the <a href=\"https:\/\/thecollective.rochester.edu\/v2?hubIdentifier=rochester\">Meliora Collective<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The University offers great resources, and understanding how to use them, ask the right questions, and listen effectively are key skills I aim to help others develop. These skills are important at any career stage, whether you&#8217;re just starting out or further along. I learn so much from interacting with younger people and always aim to stay open to growth. Being receptive, seeking continuous improvement, and learning from others are essential for becoming a successful leader at any age.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;15px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>How you can get involved like Tess<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;15px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What advice do you have for alumni who are looking to get involved in advocacy or leadership networks in their own cities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Start small! Co-host an event with one of the regional networks, sign up to be an admissions interviewer or even just join the <a href=\"https:\/\/thecollective.rochester.edu\/v2?hubIdentifier=rochester\">Meliora Collective<\/a> and offer to connect with other alumni that way. It can feel overwhelming to join a \u201ccommittee\u201d or plan an event, so start with what you are comfortable with and enjoy. Reach out to old professors or ask an alumni staff member about how you might be able to help a student group you loved being a part of.<\/p>\n<p>Every role I\u2019ve played has been made so much more fun and significantly less stressful by the incredible alumni staff members who support alumni volunteers in everything we do. When I\u2019ve had questions, concerns, or needed to step back, they are ready and willing to help. If you have an interest in getting more involved, my biggest advice is to take the plunge. It\u2019s worth it!<\/p>\n<p>Check out <a href=\"\/alumni\/stay-connected\/volunteering\/\">volunteer opportunities<\/a> with the University today![\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;grid&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; box_shadow_on_row=&#8221;no&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1738766415641{border-top-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;border-top-color: #999999 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>\u2014 Amelia Sykes, February 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25px&#8221; image_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet Washington, D.C. 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