Kristen Cooper took the stage at the International Women’s Day Rally on March 8, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse, delivering a powerful speech on the urgent need for diverse, equitable workplaces that serve both employees and customers. Watch the full speech below!
Transcript: 3/8/25 Speech by Kristen Cooper, CEO & Founder, The Startup Ladies
Good afternoon everyone!
I want to thank my fellow speakers for their inspiring words today. There are so many people out there who need to hear them, and I hope that you will take their messages to heart and share them with your family, friends, and colleagues.
There is one group of people that we haven’t addressed directly yet today: business owners and leaders, and decision-makers who have the power to shape the future.
Over the last few months, we have seen business owners and leaders, one after another, fall into line with policies and perspectives that they know to be wrong; to be bad for the United States; and to have negative consequences for their employees.
It’s time to have an honest conversation about choosing silence over action, about sitting on the sidelines rather than standing up for the people who make our businesses successful.
We cannot ignore that women, especially women of color, are still fighting for equal pay, opportunities, and fair treatment—not special treatment—fair treatment.
At the same time, transgender individuals still face systemic barriers to employment and recognition, frequently being marginalized and dismissed. Transgender people deserve access to affirming healthcare throughout their entire lives, right here in the state, without fear of discrimination or being turned away.
And NO woman should have to leave the state to get the reproductive healthcare she needs in consultation with her doctors, right here in the state of Indiana.
Employees and customers are paying attention - closely.
The February 28th economic blackout proved that. Customers will not spend their hard-earned money on companies that don't respect the people behind the products and services they provide.
Customers will not buy from brands that don’t align with their values. This is why The People’s Union USA is calling on Americans to take action once again and boycott Amazon and its subsidiaries—including Zappos, Ring, Whole Foods, Twitch, and Prime Video—starting yesterday through March 14.
Business owners and leaders NEED to prioritize fostering an environment of respect, dignity, and fairness in the workplace over worrying about offending individuals from any particular political party. Alienating customers who value these principles is a far greater risk.
I have a message for businesses remaining silent and inactive:
If you continue to ignore the call for equity, inclusion, and fair treatment, you will lose.
If you continue to support policies that hurt immigrant families, you will lose.
If you follow the lead of racists, misogynists, and bullies, you will lose.
You will lose customers. You will lose talent. And, you will lose market share to those who understand that business is NOT just about profit—it’s about people.
You cannot build a global business by shutting the door on global talent. You cannot create innovative teams by only hiring people who look, act, or talk like you. Innovation comes from diversity of: thought, experience, and culture. If you’re afraid of people who are different from you, YOU are afraid of growth. YOU are afraid of progress. And ultimately, YOU are afraid of success.
The best leaders are those who embrace change, who welcome challenges, who stand up for what’s right—even when it’s not the easy thing to do.
Leadership isn’t about keeping everyone comfortable.
It’s about pushing forward.
It’s about building something better for the next generation.
It’s about ensuring that the workplaces of the future are places where all people—regardless of gender, race, nationality, or background—can thrive.
So today, I challenge every Hoosier business owner and leader who has chosen silence over action:
Stop worrying about who you might offend and start worrying about who you might inspire.
Stop protecting outdated ways of thinking and start building companies that reflect the future.
Stop sitting on the sidelines and start leading.
Real leadership isn’t about preserving power. It’s about using it to open doors for others. And if you refuse to do that, I promise you—someone else will.
Business owners and business leaders, let’s build a future where respect, equality, and opportunity are the foundation of every business. Thank you!
Why Democracy Matters for Startups & the Future of Business
The #50501 movement started as a decentralized, grassroots response to anti-democratic and illegal actions that threaten the rights and freedoms of everyday Americans—including entrepreneurs, employees, and consumers. The idea—50 protests in 50 states on 1 day—was born on r/50501 (Reddit) and quickly spread across social media.
In just days, grassroots organizers pulled off over 80 peaceful protests in all 50 states without a budget, centralized leadership, or official backing. The message was clear: democracy, civil liberties, and economic opportunity are deeply connected.
As business owners and startup founders, we cannot ignore the economic consequences of unchecked plutocratic power, corporate monopolies, and policies that concentrate wealth and decision-making in the hands of a few. When democracy is undermined, the playing field tilts against small businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors who are working to build something new.
What Does This Mean for Startups?
Access to Capital & Opportunity
When wealth and power are concentrated among a few, funding for diverse founders becomes even more limited. Fair, democratic systems create pathways for women, founders of color, and LGBTQ+ founders to access capital, compete, and grow.
A Stable & Predictable Economy
Startups rely on stable markets, clear regulations, and consumer confidence. Anti-democratic actions lead to economic uncertainty, policy instability, and market disruptions that hurt business growth.
Attracting & Retaining Talent
The best companies thrive because of diverse, innovative teams. When democracy is weakened, it often leads to discriminatory policies, restrictive laws, and attacks on workers' rights—all of which make it harder to recruit and retain top talent.
A Fair Playing Field for Growth
Plutocratic policies often favor large corporations and monopolies, creating barriers that make it harder for startups to compete. Healthy democracy ensures fair competition, consumer choice, and opportunities for new businesses to scale.
Why Founders & Business Leaders Must Take Action
The first #50501 protests showed that when people organize, they can push back against those who seek to undermine democracy for profit and power. Business leaders cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. The future of entrepreneurship depends on protecting the systems that allow innovation, inclusion, and economic mobility to thrive.
The fight for democracy is also a fight for the future of business.
If we want a world where startups can grow, where diverse founders have access to funding, and where businesses can compete on a fair playing field, we must stand up and defend democracy.
Your business, your employees, and your customers are counting on it.
50501 on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/indiana50501.bsky.social
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