This SC lawmaker from the Midlands was just named one of Forbes’ 50 most influential women
S.C. state Sen. Katrina Shealy, a Lexington County Republican, was named one of America’s Top “50 over 50” most influential women by Forbes.
The third-annual list is Forbes’ collection of 200 women spread across four categories over the age of 50 who are changing the world for the better.
“Age can be your superpower. Just ask any of the entrepreneurs, investors, inventors and artists on our third annual 50 Over 50 list,” the article read. “The result is a group of people whose collective power — literally — stretches from the deep sea to outer space. We can only hope that you will be as inspired by reading their stories as we are in sharing them.”
Shealy’s extensive background in politics and change-making landed her on the list that came out Tuesday. Shealy has worked for an insurance company where she was the only women in her sector, and she has worked in a male-dominated Senate the entirety of her political career, since she was first elected in 2012.
Shealy said the nomination was a surprise, and she still isn’t sure who nominated her. She got an email while Forbes was still in the final nomination phase and filled out her information, and on Tuesday got the notice she was named one of the top 50 women.
“Needless to say, I was honored and surprised to be in with such a great group of highly respected women,” Shealy said. “I don’t know another word for it besides honored.”
Shealy said the compiled list of women are all from diverse backgrounds and communities, and it’s not just political figures either. Shealy was named in the “Impact” section of the list, but there were three other sections for influential women in Lifetstyle, Innovation and Investment.
Other women on the list include Nikki Haley, South Carolina’s former governor and a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination; Harvard University President Claudine Gay; American Cancer Society CEO Karen Knudeson; Special Olympics CEO Mary Davis; and Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker.
“I think it’s a very diverse group of women that do a lot of different things for their companies, organizations and leadership in general,” Shealy said.
Before she was a senator, Shealy worked in the insurance industry for four decades at Lloyd’s of London and for many of the years was the only woman at her agency, Forbes reported.
Shealy said while there were other women at the insurance industry, she was the only underwriter for the forest industry at Lloyd’s of London. There was a time where women weren’t even allowed in the building, she said, so it was significant that she had gotten the opportunity to be an underwriter where she was.
Her experience in insurance resembled her step into the political world, where she was elected into a Senateoverwhelmingly dominated by men.
“When I won, there were 45 men and me,” Shealy said. “It was quite a different atmosphere. I think they kind of didn’t notice me for awhile.”
Shealy said she knew no one in the State House had really been looking out for issues that affected women, children or veterans. Personal issues within society just weren’t being addressed, she said.
“I found that niche and really worked it, and I haven’t stopped that. I’ve taken that on,” Shealy said.
There are currently only five women in the Senate, one of them being Shealy. In May, the five women, who call themselves “sister senators,” banded together and worked across the aisle to try to block a six-week abortion ban in the state, which passed despite their objections. The women rose to prominence as local and national outlets reported the journey and steps they took.
However, in terms of representation within the Senate, Shealy said there is still “a long way to go.”
“I hope women look at this [list] and see you can do it,” Shealy said. “Certainly people didn’t think I would beat an 18 year incumbent. Women can make a difference, we just have to be brave and bold and step out there.”
This story was originally published August 10, 2023 at 5:30 AM.