I grew up in a family with strong, Alaskan women—who later became tough, Texan women. On multiple occasions, I saw my grandma pull out a shotgun to shoot a sick possum, water moccasin, or wild animal. My mom worked full-time while finishing college as a single parent raising my sister and me. I never doubted that women were strong and capable, or that they could lead. "They never made me feel like my gender was a barrier." I also grew up attending Southern Baptist churches wi