“I’m the daughter of an immigrant and a proud woman of color. My father was East Indian and my mother is an Italian Jew from Chicago. Growing up, my house was always filled with a fusion of cultures. Today, I work on building a culture of belonging.”
Meet our alumna, Gayatri Agnew, the first Asian American woman elected in the state of Arkansas. She currently represents Ward 1 on Bentonville’s City Council. Her town is also home to the fastest-growing South Asian community in the entire state.
Since 2020, Councilwoman Agnew has worked hard to ensure that her town invests in building sidewalks to increase the walkability and connectivity of the community, especially around schools and parks. Her most recent projects include expanding access to affordable housing and a public art commission project featuring the game of cricket—which has gained stalwart fans from the local community.
Councilwoman Agnew, an alum of our 2020 Ready to Lead Southwest training, shared, “It is my culture and my heritage that contributes to my strength as a leader. While other elected leaders in my community may not look like me, my experiences and my value are just as valid and my voice is needed.”
On top of her commitment to public service, Councilwoman Agnew also leads the Accessibility Center of Excellence for Walmart, designing a strategy to make the company a leader in increasing access for its shoppers and employees. She is a recipient of the Sam Walton Entrepreneur of the Year Award and is also the founder of Mother’s Monday, a group working to reinvent the balance between motherhood and work.
“My upbringing taught me to be comfortable in new environments and experiences and to always find points of commonality and connection with others,” Councilwoman Agnew concluded. “It also taught me that we are all more similar than we are different.”