The AL DÍA Women of Merit event is a celebration of women who are breaking barriers and emerging in leadership positions across the nation.

Judy Cruz-Ransom, Associate Director at the Office for Child & Youth Protection and Visiting Lecturer Diversity Fellow at the Community College of Philadelphia, is one of the honorees at the event, in the field of education.

In the lead-up to the event, AL DÍA asked each of the honorees about their biggest career challenges and accomplishments, gender equality in their industries and their of advice for other women looking to make their way into their particular field of work. 

Here are Judy Cruz-Ransom's responses:

I think that I have seen more women in positions of power, and I have seen entities introduce salary ranges in efforts to have equality. That being said there is so much work yet to be done as women still make less than men on average and women are still not invited to be seated at the table where change occurs.

We need to continue to mentor/teach our youth/young girls to believe in themselves and that they are capable of doing anything. We need to teach our young boys to support young girls and to invite them to be part of their teams. As adults we need more men to be allies to help women have a voice that will be heard. We need more women to support and empower other women. It is through these networks of support that significant change will happen.

You can do it! Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you and support all that you do. Find a mentor already in the field that may help open doors for you and provide opportunities.