History was made this week when Congress confirmed Janet Yellen, the first woman to take over the top position in the U.S. central bank's 100-year history or any major central bank, for that matter. Bye Bye, Bernarke. It's been real.
The first woman on top at the Fed. Glass ceiling-breaking Yellen gives all women a sense of hope -- a sense we can do anything. Why now? Because the financial industry is one of the most, if not the most, male-dominated sectors.
I know this from first-hand experience, after spending half of my career in investor relations and corporate communications for a global financial institution.
Yellen's appointment is a call for celebration, and while there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to women in the workplace, there will continue to be 'firsts' or pioneers that will make their mark on history and pave the way for the next generation of women.
We saw great strides for women in 2013, and I believe that in 2014, women will be poised for even greater advancements.
2013 was the year women dominated the box office with movies like Frozen, Gravity and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, proving that male action figures such as Will Smith fighting aliens is so 1996.
Last year, we also witnessed Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's feminist manifesto Lean In -- which I often refer to as the "bible" for working mothers -- drive not only water cooler conversation, but also force companies to evaluate the role of women at work.
As far as Latinas, there have been strides in areas from politics to entertainment to government. While we hoped President Obama would appoint a Latina cabinet member to replace Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor, there are still are prominent roles Latinas hold. Latinas have been leading the charge for the past two years at the federal level. I do believe you have to get the best person for the job. I don't believe in hiring someone just to check off a box.
We see Latina representation in the White House with Cecilia Muñoz, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council. And of course, Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the Latina that holds the highest office in the country, who became the first Hispanic justice in the Supreme Court and only its third female justice -- not to mention she is from the Boogie Down Bronx.
Last year was also historic on Capitol Hill, for a record 98 women -- 20 in the Senate and 78 in the House -- took their place in the new 113th Congress. While we are not the majority, women serving in Congress are looking to change policies and society, like Wendy Davis of Texas's famous filibuster, who is now running for governor of the state.
"Modern Family's" Sofia Vergara still remains on top of Forbes' highest-paid actresses list, earning $30 million in 2013, more than other TV actor, male or female. Yes, I can't believe it, either.
So what's next? Will we see a Latina cast member on "Saturday Night Live?" Not so much. I'm a huge fan of the show and the lack of diversity doesn't turn me off, but the"y need to get with the program of the new America. They now have hired the first black female cast member in six years. With all the backlash the "SNL" creators received, they had no other choice.
Call in Olivia Pope to fix it... and she did. #Gladiators
We may even have our first female president -- Hillary Clinton -- in 2016. Beyonce is on to something. Who runs the world? Who runs this mother? Girls!