New Lexington institute focuses on women’s leadership, growth

Mass Innovations, From The Beacon, April 2026

Cheered on by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and other leaders, 18 women employees in Lexington graduated last month from a new town leadership program that’s helping women build support networks and gain a better sense of their own possibilities.

The March 19 ceremony concluded the first six-month session of the Lexington Women’s Institute for Learning and Leadership, which is believed to be the first municipal program in Massachusetts to empower women employees and help them overcome barriers in the workplace. The program’s creators hope the institute will boost confidence and leadership skills, which in turn will make the employees stronger advocates for local government and the residents they serve.

The program grew out of discussions that Deputy Town Manager Kelly Axtell has heard and participated in during professional conferences and meetings, including the MMA’s Women Leading Government group.

“Just talking to colleagues, meeting people across the country, and just talking with our employees themselves, I feel committed to lifting and supporting women,” Axtell said. “And starting here in Lexington with my fellow colleagues is a natural thing for me.”

Axtell worked with Abraham Fofanah, who recently completed a management fellowship in Lexington. Fofanah researched women’s institutes in other states, including Texas and Michigan. They also reviewed research from the International City/County Management Association about women’s trajectories in local government and the obstacles they face.

Last June, Lexington held a lunch-and-learn session with staff, and their feedback helped shape the curriculum for the program.

The first cohort
In building the first cohort, Lexington sought employees from different departments and job levels, and ultimately got employees from nearly every department. In the application, employees were asked why they wanted to participate.

“I have to say, the answers that came in, they blew me away,” Axtell said. “They were so thoughtful. People really wanted this.”

Starting in October, the 18 women met monthly, assessing their strengths and goals and participating in exercises about professional development topics such as handling difficult conversations, public speaking, and capitalizing on personality strengths for leadership. Guest speakers included Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Lexington Select Board Member Vineeta Kumar, and Patricia Vinchesi, a retired town administrator in numerous communities.

Melissa Battite, director of recreation and community programs, worked with Axtell to develop the institute and select the 18 participants. She said the program encourages participants to view themselves differently.

“What we’re finding is that most people wouldn’t sign up for a professional development like this,” Battite said. “Their jobs were very skill-focused, so they might go to a technology class or a MUNIS class, or they might go to learn to get stronger skills to do their job, but they never thought of themselves as a leader in that position.”

Program leaders said they witnessed dramatic transformations over the six months, including watching more reserved employees embrace public speaking. Communications Director Taylor Galusha, who was also involved in launching the institute, said mixing women from different levels of leadership helped encourage the employees’ development.

“So you’re not just a bunch of department heads in a room talking about leadership,” Galusha said. “You’re also helping to motivate, maybe, other people within the organization that might not have seen themselves in that leadership position before, but might now.”

Lexington partnered with outside organizations and individuals for program support, receiving a $2,500 grant from the Jacquelyn R. Smith Memorial Fund, and donated time from speakers. In addition, local organizations donated space to allow participants to focus away from their usual municipal settings.

Axtell said Lexington now expects to run the program in two-year cycles. For the second year, Lexington plans to partner with nearby communities to mentor women interested in pursuing careers as town managers, a session that could launch as early as this fall.

Graduation day
During the final session, participants reflected on their experiences, and women from the town’s senior management team discussed the experiences that led them to Lexington. The graduates watched a congratulatory video message from ICMA CEO and Executive Director Julia Novak, a former assistant town manager in Lexington.

Driscoll, a former mayor of Salem, commended the women for investing in themselves. When women do this work, she said, “we’re really uplifting women and being able to cheer on peers and put ourselves in a position to be able to make room at the table for others.”

The graduates talked about how the program has helped them. Public Facilities Office Manager Lisa Whelan said she appreciated hearing about the experiences and challenges other women face throughout Lexington’s government.

“It really helps to know that you’re not alone,” Whelan said.

Michelle Kelleher, Lexington’s senior services director, said she wanted to participate to become a better leader for her employees.

“I think just listening to all of the other senior managers that work for the town and how they got to where they are now is so important and inspiring,” Kelleher said. “So I feel very inspired today, and I can’t wait to go back to work and serve the people of the community.”

For more information about Lexington’s institute, please contact Kelly Axtell at [email protected].