THE OVE
OUR MISSION
Women continue to face challenges in the workplace that are unique to their gender. Why? Because competence and leadership, two attributes required to advance in a career, are still seen as stereotypically male characteristics. As a result, women are not afforded the presumption of competence given to others, are inadvertently held to a higher standard and receive lower evaluations for similar work.
This environment discourages advancement of talented and competent employees who add value to the workplace. Indeed, despite the age old assumptions, female advancement in the workplace is plagued not by lack of competence, effort or the desire to raise a family, but stereotypes that women are not assertive, ambitious, decisive, or business-oriented.
How do we fight against these stereotypes? By creating opportunities for women to show their talents and feel supported. Women are excellent at collaborating, dealing with pressure, managing complexity, risk awareness, intuition and empathy, and are uniquely suited to succeed in business and in building client relationships.
The Ove is an online platform and real-life community of female professionals and their allies. The platform brings local professionals and entrepreneurs together who celebrate women and see value in the uniquely talented individuals in our network. We believe these connections will facilitate business generation, education and personal growth.
THE FOUNDERS
Whitney and Lindsay were born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. In high school, Lindsay was a competitive soccer player and Whitney a competitive golfer. Later, both played their respective sports in college, Whitney at the University of Arizona and Lindsay at Yale. After stints competing on the professional circuits, both decided to enroll in law school, Whitney at the University of Arizona and Lindsay at UNLV.
In the fall of 2010, Whitney and Lindsay began their legal careers in Las Vegas. Lindsay is currently with Ballard Spahr and Whitney with Greenberg Traurig, both top 100 law firms. Lindsay’s practice focuses on consumer finance litigation and Whitney’s focus is commercial litigation in the areas of employment, education and construction.
Whitney and Lindsay share a life-long friendship forged from supporting each other both personally and professionally over the last 10 years. Both married their spouses in 2017 and welcomed their first born only five months apart.
The Ove was born as a result of Whitney and Lindsay’s experience with challenges they, and most women, face when seeking career advancement and developing business in traditionally male fields.
WHITNEY WELCH-KIRMSE
President / Co-Founder
LINDSAYÂ DEMAREE
President / Co-Founder
"Feminism … I think the simplest explanation, and one that captures the idea, is a song that Marlo Thomas sang, 'Free to be You and Me.' Free to be, if you were a girl—doctor, lawyer, Indian chief. Anything you want to be. And if you’re a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, that’s OK too. That notion that we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers—manmade barriers, certainly not heaven sent."
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
JOIN THE OVE NETWORK
You can join The Ove by sending us an email and providing your name, background and what you are hoping to gain from being part of the network.