Glennon Doyle: Leading with Love, Rising Together
- Sep 17
- 3 min read
By She Rises Studios
Glennon Doyle’s impact cannot be measured in titles or accolades alone—though she has many. Bestselling author, founder of the nonprofit Together Rising, and a fierce advocate for radical truth, compassion, and women’s empowerment, Glennon has become a voice for those who have long felt unseen. But perhaps her greatest legacy lies in the community she’s built: a sisterhood of women who rise by lifting one another, healing collectively, and giving generously. In a world that teaches women to shrink, compete, or stay silent, Glennon dares them to speak, expand, and rise together.
From the moment her words first appeared online, Glennon’s vulnerability struck a chord. She didn’t present a curated, polished life. She shared her struggles—addiction, mental health, motherhood, divorce—not for shock value, but to show others they weren’t alone. Her honesty became a mirror for thousands of women grappling with their own pain and self-doubt. She reminded them that brokenness is not weakness and that truth-telling is a form of leadership. Her blog, books, and talks became not just inspiration, but a call to action: to feel it all, to tell the truth, and to love without holding back.
That deep sense of connection and purpose is what birthed Together Rising, the nonprofit she founded in 2012 alongside a team of women equally passionate about community-based change. What began as a small, grassroots project grew into a powerful engine for good—mobilizing “ordinary” people, especially women, to give what they can to help others in need. The organization operates on a simple but revolutionary belief: what we have is enough if we use it together.
Under Glennon’s leadership, Together Rising has raised over $50 million for causes both domestic and global, from reuniting families at the border to funding disaster relief, school programs, and women’s shelters. But it’s not just the money—it’s how it’s given. Every donation comes with a sense of belonging, of shared purpose. Donors don’t just give; they become part of something. And that’s exactly the kind of change Glennon wants to see: collective, heartfelt, and led by everyday women who choose love over apathy.
In many ways, Glennon redefines leadership itself. To her, a true leader is someone willing to feel deeply and act boldly—not someone who has all the answers, but someone who invites others to bring their voices to the table. She models this in her own life, not by pretending to be fearless, but by moving forward despite fear, with honesty and grace. Her bestselling book Untamed is a manifesto for reclaiming our wild, intuitive, liberated selves—and for encouraging others to do the same.
Glennon’s story aligns beautifully with this month’s theme, “Together We Rise.” Her entire philosophy rests on the idea that women don’t need to “go it alone.” That strength is not about independence in isolation, but about interdependence—with other women, with truth, and with love. Her friendships, particularly with her wife Abby Wambach and the women who co-lead Together Rising, showcase what’s possible when women lead side by side, not in front of or behind one another, but with one another.
In a world where so many women are conditioned to compete, Glennon invites them to connect. Where many feel pressure to do more and be more, she whispers what we truly need: presence, honesty, and one another.
Her work reminds us that impact isn’t always about scale—it’s about sincerity. That one act of kindness, one honest conversation, one generous gesture can ripple out and change countless lives.
As we honor National Women’s Friendship Day, Glennon Doyle stands as a beacon for what happens when women stop pretending, start connecting, and choose each other. Through her writing, activism, and community-building, she has helped create a world where rising isn’t a solo climb—it’s a shared journey. Her life’s work reminds us that we are powerful not in spite of our softness, but because of it.
Glennon doesn’t claim to have it all figured out—and that’s exactly why so many trust her. She walks beside us, not above us. She shows us that leadership is love in action, and that when we come together, tell the truth, and give what we can, we don’t just rise—we lift the world with us.
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