A tribute to Alexis Herman on her birthday.

We would like to share a wonderful article honoring Alexis entitled “Quiet Power: What Alexis Herman Taught Us About Leadership” by Flo McAfee on her Substack, The Long Game. The article was written on July 16, 2026, on what would have been Alexis’ 79th birthday—what a beautiful gift to her memory.

Below is an excerpt for you to enjoy, or you can visit the original article to read it in its entirety.

July 16 is a remarkable day on the American calendar.

It is the birthday of Ida B. Wells, whose fearless journalism exposed the brutal truth of lynching and challenged a nation to confront injustice. It is also the birthday of Alexis Margaret Herman, whose influence helped shape the highest levels of American government through a very different but equally powerful form of leadership.

Two days later, on July 18, comes the birthday of Nelson Mandela, whose moral authority transformed a nation.

Three birthdays. Three leaders. Three different expressions of power.

History often celebrates the loudest voices. The Long Game reminds us to notice the quiet ones.

I witnessed that quiet power firsthand. Over several decades, I had the privilege of working alongside Alexis—from presidential campaigns and national political conventions to the White House and later alongside Dr. Dorothy Height. What impressed me was never simply the offices she held. It was the extraordinary discipline with which she exercised influence. She rarely sought the spotlight. She sought the outcome. Watching her reinforced for me that real influence is rarely loud.

One memory has remained with me for decades.

When President Bill Clinton nominated Alexis to become U.S. Secretary of Labor, her confirmation was far from certain. Other candidates were under serious consideration, and even among friends and political allies, there were differing opinions about who should lead the department.

To read the rest of Flo McAfee’s reflections on Alexis Herman, check out the full post over on The Long Game.