This episode brings you behind the scenes of Mari’s professional journey to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken organization and why she is driven by connection and impact. How does she keep the momentum going and still have room for lightness and laughter? Listen in and get inspired!

Mari Horita is Senior Vice President of Social Impact & Civic Affairs for the Seattle Kraken and Executive Director of One Roof Foundation. She leads the development and implementation of the social impact, philanthropic and community engagement vision and strategy for the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena.

Prior to joining the Kraken, Mari was president and CEO of ArtsFund, where she led the organization's strategic transition to better represent and serve the evolving population and arts community in the Puget Sound Region. She has served on a number of nonprofit boards including the United Way of King County, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Asian Bar Association of Washington, YouthCare and the Seattle Foundation. She currently co-chairs the Board DE&I Committee for the Downtown Seattle Association and serves on the Boards of the University of Washington Foundation and the Seattle Art Museum. Mari has played violin with the Vina Musica String Quartet for the past 25 years and before that performed with the Seattle Youth Symphony, Denver Philharmonic and the Vancouver Academy of Music Orchestra.

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

Ya Gotta Laugh or Quit -

Goodbye 2025!

Recorded Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025

Join us for our live NYE beach walk on Whidbey Island! Your JBWG co-hosts thank you for supporting our podcast with this joyous Auld Lang Syne moment as we wish 2025 a very merry sssso-long and welcome 2026 with a happy-go-lucky neigh! Let's look the year-of-the-fire-horse in the mouth and acknowledge that, outside of creating this super fun podcast, 2025 was a difficult year. So, join us for this short episode full of dogs, laughs and gratitude.

Because, if there's one thing we know for sure, we're not quitting!

So we might as well laugh.

Cheers!

Myra & Hilary

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners

Lenice is a bright, infectious energy who motivates and ignites hope. Her career is awe-inspiring; she is a friend, collaborator, childcare activist, community builder and champion for gender and race equity. She brings people together and we are thrilled she joined us on the pod to include YOU, our listeners, in this conversation about expanding our collective vision for women’s empowerment.

Lenice Emanuel is a speaker, writer, and race & gender equity activist. She has over 25 years of leadership in nonprofit management, government, fund development, and community relations. She is a Climate Reality Leader and part of a corps of advocates and influencers in 152 countries, trained by former Vice President Al Gore. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree in leadership and ethics from Spring Hill College, and certification from Cornell University. As Executive Director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice (AISJ), she works to empower women, and people of color, and address poverty in marginalized communities through childcare advocacy, voter engagement, gender equity, grassroots organizing, environmental justice, and racial healing. In this capacity, she leads The Alabama Movement for Child Care™, where she works to organize childcare providers across Alabama’s Black Belt region, to ensure a more equitable childcare system for minorities and women. She has facilitated racial healing & reconciliation community learning forums for thousands in Alabama and is dedicated to bringing diverse groups together to advance a more just society.

Content advisory: This episode contains discussion around the construct of racial violence and violence against women.

Learn more about Lenice and support her work at the Alabama Institute for Social Justice

Just Before We Go is produced by ⁠Myra Mae Studios⁠ and ⁠Real Girl Athletics⁠

SUPPORT the production of content for women over 40 by ⁠buying Hilary and Myra a coffee⁠ and FOLLOW Just Before We Go on Instagram

Theme song is written by Dave Ellis and performed by ⁠Dave Ellis and the Hopeless Sinners