(Dasheika Ruffin teaching her session on Why Here, Why Now, Why You? at the LBJWCS Kickoff.)
For this week’s Why LBJWCS, we’re excited to introduce LBJWCS Advisory Council Vice Chair Dasheika Ruffin. Dasheika has helped prepare our cohort members to become stronger, more authentic storytellers. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in law, advocacy, and some of the nation's most high-profile political campaigns, she equips participants with the tools to craft compelling messages that connect with voters.
What inspired you to become involved with the LBJ Women's Campaign School?
As someone who has worked in politics for over 20 years, one thing I see often is that it usually takes women seven times to hear “you should run for office” before it becomes an actual consideration. That number is even higher for women of color. This is true even when the woman is doing the work of the office, just without the title. This shows me that women tend to be more deliberate when it comes to running for office due to considerations that may not be as dire to their male counterparts (family/caregiver, financial obligations, safety, imposter syndrome, etc.). Ironically, these are the same considerations that usually make women excellent elected officials. We legislate with our families and communities in mind. So very early in my career, I sought out to encourage and assist more women to run for office and serve in leadership roles on campaigns. That is why the LBJ Women’s Campaign School is so dear to me. Through this program, I get to reach women from all backgrounds and all levels of their political journey. What brings me back year after year is the sense of pride I get seeing a fellow’s journey from the beginning - as an applicant, then as a fellow soaking up the knowledge provided by the program and then as a candidate or an operative using the skills, resources and network they obtain from the program.
What makes the LBJ Women's Campaign School unique, and why do you believe programs like this are important for women in politics?
What sets the LBJ Women’s Campaign School apart is that we doesn’t just teach the theory of running for office or managing a campaign, we puts the fellows through the mechanics: understanding your “why,” message development, fundraising, field and media strategy - the things you’re expected to already know the moment you decide to run for office. Most women don’t have access to candidate-specific formalized training the way men often do through networks and mentorships, that were never built with us in mind. I have spent two decades in politics and a common theme I often see is that talent isn’t the barrier for women in politics. Access to structured training, resources and networks are. Programs, especially like LBJ Women’s Campaign School close the gap directly, rather than leaving it to chance.
What is one lesson you hope participants take away from your session?
One of the most important things you can do for yourself is invest in your own leadership. This investment happens way before your name is ever on a ballot or you become someone’s campaign advisor. Spend time cultivating your own story. Why do you want to run for office, why are you choosing the office you are seeking, what brings you to the work, why now? These questions require deep introspection and require you spending time with you to figure them out. You will be surprised by the number of candidates who cannot articulate a clear response to these questions. And if you cannot answer, “why do you want to run for office,” you will never be able to convince people to vote for you. Saying you want to run because you want to serve is simply not enough. There must be a deeper connection to who you are, your background and your lived experience that drives you to run for office. What is your powerful story that prepares you for this moment, we all have one. The LBJ Women’s Campaign forces you to explore your narrative.
What would you say to someone who is considering applying to the LBJ Women's Campaign School but isn't sure if they're ready?
APPLY! Readiness isn’t a prerequisite, it’s the outcome. Here is a little secret, nobody walks into their first campaign fully prepared. The key is to invest as much in yourself and your leadership so that you can get as close to “prepared” as possible. This program exists precisely for women who are talented and motivated, but who may not have yet had access to the structured training or network to turn that into a real path forward. If you’re asking the question at all, you’re already further along than you think. LBJ Women’s Campaign School is built to meet you exactly where you are!
Apply to the LBJ Women's Campaign School: https://apply.lbj.utexas.edu/apply/