Founder Speaks at #IWD2026 Press Conference
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
On March 6, 2026, Untapped Potential founder Candace Freedenberg had the honor of speaking at the Connecticut State Capitol as part of a statewide press conference recognizing National Equal Pay Day, International Women’s Day, and Women’s History Month.
The event, held in the Capitol’s North Lobby, brought together state leaders and business advocates committed to advancing economic opportunity for women. Hosted by Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, the program featured remarks from State Senator Mae Flexer, Women’s Business Development Council Business Advisor Sherry Konwerski, Candace Freedenberg, and Governor Ned Lamont.
For Untapped Potential, the invitation represented an important opportunity to bring attention to a group that is often invisible in economic policy conversations: caregivers navigating career gaps.
The Lieutenant Governor kicked off the press conference highlighting the theme of this year's International Women's Day, "Give to Gain." The theme emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support.
Recognizing the Work that Makes All Other Work Possible
In her remarks, Candace spoke about the essential role caregiving plays in our economy and why return-to-work pathways are increasingly important for families, businesses, and the workforce at large. Caregivers are our Nation's "givers" but it is work. Naming it "care work" is important.
Capitol News Briefing on National Equal Pay Day and International Women's Day with Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz and Gov. Lamont
(Video Credit: The Connecticut Network))
“Care work—paid, underpaid, and unpaid—is the work that makes all other work possible.”
From raising children to caring for aging parents, caregiving responsibilities are a growing part of working life in the United States. As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, more families are finding themselves balancing careers alongside elder care and childcare responsibilities.
“Research shows that three out of four of us will navigate caregiving responsibilities at some point in our lives. Women may be the canary in the coal mine, but this is a workforce issue that will increasingly affect everyone.”
Yet while caregiving responsibilities have grown, workplace structures have not specifically evolved to support them. One challenge Candace highlighted is the way modern hiring technologies can unintentionally exclude talented professionals who have taken time away from paid work.
“Digital hiring tools—from applicant tracking systems to AI screening—often filter out talented professionals simply because they have a career gap for caregiving.”
These individuals are not early-career candidates or inexperienced workers. Many are highly educated professionals with years of expertise in fields such as finance, marketing, engineering, operations, and technology. When they attempt to return to the workforce, however, they frequently encounter closed doors.
Creating a Different Door Back to Work
That challenge is exactly what Untapped Potential was founded to address.
Candace shared how the organization works with employers and returning professionals to create new pathways back to meaningful careers. Through its Flexreturn® engagements, mentoring network, and professional development opportunities, Untapped Potential helps employers access a highly skilled but often overlooked talent pool.
“Caregivers deserve a different door back to work.”
Through curated introductions and structured work engagements, employers are able to evaluate experienced professionals in real-world projects, while returners rebuild confidence and demonstrate their current capabilities.
The results often surprise employers.
“Caregiving builds leadership, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and executive function—exactly the human capabilities today’s workplaces need.”
This perspective resonates strongly with organizations seeking talent that combine professional experience with resilience, problem-solving, and empathy.
Why Equal Pay Day and International Women’s Day Matter
The March 6 press conference highlighted the significance of Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year. Combined with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the moment offered an opportunity to reflect on both progress and the work still ahead.
For Candace, the connection between caregiving and workplace equity is clear.
“Until there is greater equality in caregiving responsibilities, there will continue to be barriers to equality in the workforce.”
Supporting caregivers is not simply a social issue—it is an economic one. When experienced professionals are sidelined because they stepped away to care for family members, companies lose valuable talent and institutional knowledge.
“When talented professionals are kept out of the workforce because of outdated systems or assumptions, our entire economy loses.”
A Shared Commitment to Opportunity
The event underscored Connecticut’s commitment to advancing opportunities for women and strengthening the state’s workforce. Under the leadership of Governor Ned Lamont and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, the state has increasingly emphasized workforce development, inclusive hiring, and economic participation.
Candace expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring the voice of returners and caregivers into that conversation.
“It takes a village to raise the next generation. But it also takes a village to ensure those who stepped away to do that vital work are not permanently sidelined from our economy.”
Looking Forward
At Untapped Potential, we believe careers are not linear. Life includes seasons of caregiving, growth, and reinvention. When employers recognize the value of professionals returning from caregiving, they unlock not only individual careers—but also stronger, more resilient teams. International Women’s Day reminds us that the contributions women make across their lifetimes—at work, at home, and in community—are essential to our collective success.
“When we create pathways back to meaningful work for caregivers, we strengthen families, businesses, and the future of work for everyone.”
We are grateful to Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Governor Ned Lamont, Senator Mae Flexer, and the Women’s Business Development Council for elevating these issues and creating space for this important conversation.
Together, we can continue building workplaces that recognize the full arc of a career—and the full potential of those who step forward to contribute both to work and to care throughout their lives.
