Kavanagh to doubters of female leadership: ‘Have you ever met a woman?’

When it comes to doubters of the potential of female leaders, New York City Fire Department Commissioner Laura Kavanagh put it simply: “If I’m being honest, have you ever met a woman?”

The FDNY’s first woman leader, who’s leaving the job next month, delivered a passionate endorsement of female leadership during her keynote address at City and State’s 40 in their 40s event last night at Sixty Pine Street in Lower Manhattan. The event celebrated the city’s most promising Gen-X leaders in both public and private sectors. 

Kavanagh, who announced her resignation earlier this month, delivered a farewell address highlighting her strides and the hurdles she faced as the first woman to ever lead the FDNY’s 99% male workforce.

“When someone notes how I handle myself gracefully when people attack me, how I hold myself together in tragedy, how I can tune out the critics?” she asked. “Have you ever met the woman who has to smile and nod while her colleagues or even the public celebrate abusive men in her workplace? Grace and strength are what we do.”

Under her leadership, the FDNY yielded greater diversity in recruitment, resulting in historically large female graduating cohorts. A proponent of technology, Kavanagh oversaw the department’s adoption of robotics, smart devices and safety equipment for firefighters and emergency services personnel. In her final days as commissioner, she intends to continue tackling lithium-ion battery fires through safe e-bike charging and usage initiatives.  

Throughout her decade-long career at the department – from assistant to deputy commissioner under former FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro, she helped ensure the largest-ever raise for EMTs.

As Kavanagh spoke during her remarks of overcoming her fears, she encouraged attendees to continue paving ways for future generations of leaders.

“Let fear fuel you. It means you are doing the right thing,” she said. “The day you are not sure you can do it, look behind and see the woman following you, who needs to see you succeed and she will give you strength.”

Kavanagh, who will officially leave her post in August, cited a desire to focus on family and loved ones as the chief reason behind her departure. 

“It is the honor of my lifetime to represent the firefighters, EMTs and paramedics of the world’s greatest fire department. It is also the honor of my lifetime to be the first, so that I can play a small role in making sure I won’t be the last,”  she said. “Here’s to a world of firsts.”