When I joined Inforum as President and CEO in January, one of the first things I did was travel to Grand Rapids, where I was invited to speak with the Rotary Club.
I immediately felt welcomed—and that didn’t surprise me. Grand Rapids is known for being open, civic-minded, and deeply connected, and you can feel that as soon as you’re there. Nonprofits, neighborhood groups, and local businesses work together in ways that feel authentic, and people truly care about their city. You see it in how they show up for local causes, events, and for one another. Inforum West Michigan’s 20th anniversary Capstone Dinner in November was by all accounts a source of great inspiration and pride.
Inforum has long been committed to inclusion and opportunity. While our mission centers on advancing women in their jobs and careers, men are welcome. I don’t take lightly the fact that the organization’s evolution—and its values—helped pave the way for someone like me, with my lived experience and background, to step into this role. Leading Inforum really is a dream job.
Throughout my career, I’ve focused on supporting women leaders—sometimes informally in roles I’ve held, sometimes through structured leadership programs, and most recently through my consulting practice. Being able to do this work through Inforum, with its platform, reach, and credibility, is both energizing and deeply meaningful to me.
I’m also in the midst of an active listening tour, meeting with stakeholders across Michigan. What I’m hearing again and again is just how powerful Inforum has been—not only for individual women, but for the organizations where they work. I’m also receiving thoughtful, constructive feedback that encourages us to take a close look at our offerings and make smart, targeted adjustments. The goal is to keep delivering relevant, high-impact experiences that truly meet women where they are in their careers.
As I continue to listen and learn, the framework guiding Inforum into its next chapter is being reinforced. I think of it in four parts:
Elevate means strengthening leadership pathways for women at every stage—making sure they have the skills, confidence, and networks they need to move into roles with greater influence and impact.
Expand reflects our commitment to broadening access, reach, and relevance—across Michigan, across industries, and across career phases—so more women and more organizations can benefit from Inforum’s work.
Essential is about positioning Inforum as core infrastructure for advancing women’s careers. Not optional programming, but a trusted partner that organizations rely on to build stronger, more equitable leadership pipelines.
And Sustain is about long-term impact—aligning our strategy, programs, and resources so the progress we help create today lasts for years to come.
I’m excited about the commitment, ideas, and interest I’ve encountered—and I look forward to the future as I continue learning.
Donna Murray-Brown is president and CEO of Inforum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate careers for women and be a catalyst that removes barriers and increases opportunity. She can be reached at [email protected]. Learn more about us at www.myinforum.org, or contact Becky Wood, vice president, business development & West Michigan market leader, at [email protected], or Darlene O’Neal, West Michigan brand ambassador, at [email protected].
Courtesy of Inforum.
