The Blue Highway Beacon: Vol. II, NO. 6

The History of Women’s Leadership in America Through the Eyes of Our U.S. First Ladies

Bountiful Examples and Lessons for Blue Highway and for Our Clients

By Andy Och, Senior Vice President, Operations and Marketing

This past weekend marked the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolutionary War in the United States, and outside of remembrances at Boston’s Old North Church and battle re-enactments at Lexington and Concord Massachusetts, reaction to the anniversary was surprisingly muted. Still, the meaning of the anniversary itself takes on new heft and weight in an era of upheaval and forced change. 

And in tellings and retellings of American history over the last few generations, some significant contributions have been missed or overlooked.

For example, the United States of America would not exist if George Washington had not met and married the widow Martha Dandridge Custis. That’s how important the First Ladies of the United States have been to the story of the modern world in its entirety since well before the American Revolutionary War.

My name is Andrew (Andy) Och, and not only am I the Senior Vice President for Operations and Marketing at Blue Highway Advisory and Blue Highway Global, but I am a recovering 24-hour news, television, documentary and multimedia producer known to many the world over as the FIRST LADIES MAN.

I was in the right place at the right time to be chosen as a Series Producer for the C-SPAN/White House Historical Association television series “First Ladies: Influence and Image” (available for FREE on the video page at www.firstladiesman.com ). Together, we created the largest library of information and resources about American First Ladies (yes, all of them) that exists in the world today.

My travels and my research into these remarkable women changed my life forever, and for the better. They made it even clearer to me that everyone’s voice and ideas matter. They reinvigorated my passion for telling good stories. … And for telling true stories.

And, they awakened in me a passion for leaving the world a better place than I found it. All of these lessons, values, motivations and examples are these things I bring to the table for our Blue Highway clients, as does everyone else on our roster, from their own unique outlooks and sets of widely varied experiences.

How many of you knew that Martha Washington was married before George?

Martha Dandridge married Daniel Parke Custis on May 15, 1750. Custis died seven years later, and left Martha an extremely wealthy land- and property-owner at the age of 26. Martha soon attracted the attention of a young British Army soldier named George Washington. Certainly, her land and wealth were of practical attention and attraction to George, but more so still, it was her ability to manage all of those responsibilities that eventually enabled Washington, who was to become Commanding General of the colonial armed forces, to successfully revolt against the most powerful military and governing force in the world at the time.

Washington once wrote, “I do not think clearly without my wife at my side.” He had Mrs. Washington travel at great personal risk to nearly every Winter encampment of the Revolutionary War. She was there to help host events, dinners, gatherings and strategy meetings with other military leaders and foreign diplomats, which contributed immeasurably to the success of the war and the birth of America.

Think of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington as one of the first successful female CEOs of the New World and Colonies. In fact, most of our Founding Fathers (and many of our modern-day Presidents) married up wisely. These First Ladies of the United States are some of the most demonstrably powerful and influential unelected and unpaid women the world has ever seen.

Andy Och, Senior Vice President, Operations and Marketing, pictured with Rosalynn Carter.

First Ladies have always championed their dearest causes and supported multitudes of philanthropies. Particularly, Dolley Madison, Harriet Lane and Lucy Hayes paved the way and gave power to the role of First Lady in their work with orphanages, veterans, children’s medical facilities and the mentally ill.

This then enabled Eleanor Roosevelt to hold all-female reporter press conferences and write her syndicated “My Day” column. It gave Rosalynn Carter the space (at her husband’s request) to attend cabinet and staff meetings so she could better advise and consult with her husband on important matters and policies of the day. In turn, Nancy Reagan had the room and the mandate to create her long-remembered “Just Say No.” anti-drug campaign.

Barbara Bush was then so empowered to take a more visible position in her efforts to help children and adults read, giving space and voice to Hillary Clinton at congressional hearings to advocate for better health care and foster programs for children. Michelle Obama then pressed ahead with her efforts to plant a vegetable garden at the White House and to encourage kids nationwide to eat more mindfully and get healthier with her “Let’s Move" program.

The legacy of all of these remarkable women is one of public service, empathy, innovation, and strength.

At Blue Highway Advisory, we are inspired by their example. The values these women embodied — vision, resolve, compassion, and resilience — are the same values we bring to every client and project we’re privileged to support.

If you're curious about how we can apply that same sense of dedication and excellence to your most pressing needs, we’d be honored to show you.

Email me directly, and let’s talk.

andy.och@bluehighwayadvisory.com