HBR IdeaCast Moms Demand Action Founder on What It Takes to Lead Change
Jun 24, 2025
Shannon Watts shares her inspiring journey from stay-at-home mom to gun safety advocate. She discusses how personal values align with action to create meaningful change. The conversation highlights the power of small victories in activism and the importance of incremental progress. Watts also explores how grassroots movements can influence corporate behavior, showcasing her impactful "momcott" campaign. With insights on resilience and collaboration, she emphasizes how to maintain momentum amidst chaos while building supportive networks.
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Spark From A Facebook Post
- Shannon Watts turned grief from the Sandy Hook shooting into action by creating a Facebook page overnight.
- That simple post became the spark that launched Moms Demand Action and drew nationwide volunteers.
Values, Abilities, Desires Align Leadership
- Aligning values, abilities, and desires makes a person unusually well-suited to lead change even without formal credentials.
- Watts combined communication skills, family values, and a desire shaped by Mothers Against Drunk Driving to act.
Audit Your Fire And Find Community
- Audit your life by listing your values, abilities, and desires to find where to focus your energy.
- Use community to validate and amplify those priorities so you can sustain action.
