By Kaylor Jones / Photos by Claudia Johnstone
For Lindsey Callinsky, nothing is more important than serving as a role model – both to her own sons, and to any girls who are in the same position she once found herself in.
“My younger sister and I were raised by a single mom who worked really hard at a time when it was not easy for women to get a leg up in their careers, especially while having kids,” says Callinsky, who, while growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, had difficulty finding many examples of women in leadership roles. “I can’t help but feel it contributed to girls not believing they could be leaders. Seeing is a big part of believing.”
At age 18, she got a job as a temp at Wells Fargo and began noticing women in executive leadership roles. She also saw a direct correlation between the amount of work she invested in her career and her success at the company. While climbing the ladder from Wells Fargo’s VP regional sales coach to VP of treasury management , she realized how she might be able to serve as the type of role model she had once dreamed of seeing.
In 2013, Callinsky began volunteering with Girls Inc., a nonprofit that advocates for strength and boldness in girls nationwide, supporting the next generation of powerful women while striving to build a more equitable society.
“Through my experiences there I could see what a difference that type of coaching and mentoring would have had on me at a younger age. I fully believe we can change the world by empowering women and girls. Sitting on the board of Girls Inc. for seven years proved that to me.”
Fighting for the Future
Callinsky’s involvement with Girls Inc. was just the beginning of her journey of giving back. After a stint working in marketing for a startup, she was able to merge her career experience with her passion for philanthropy as Phoenix Children’s Foundation’s director of marketing, a position she still holds today.
Before joining the foundation in 2023, Callinsky’s family had a firsthand experience with the hospital. “My son had a medical event. No parent is ever prepared for that, but when it did happen, I was so glad Phoenix Children’s was here in my backyard to give him the care he needed. I was amazed at the clinical team and all the little things they do to make it a little less scary for kids. Joining the foundation side of the hospital was an easy decision that aligned with my vision for helping the underserved, and those who can’t advocate for themselves.”
Among her favorite parts of the job are supporting the hospital’s medical staff and helping corporate partners see the direct impact of their donations, connecting them with individual patients who have benefitted from those dollars.
“Parents feel helpless enough when their child is sick, but my hope is that we can take care of the other things so they can focus solely on their child, their family. Parents should never have to choose between their child’s health and rent.”
Family Matters
When she moved to Phoenix, which isn’t currently home to a Girls Inc. chapter, Callinsky was on the lookout for a new way to get involved in the causes closest to her heart. She found a perfect match in Helping Hands for Single Moms.
The Phoenix-based organization helps low-income single mother families while the mom pursues post-secondary education, providing scholarship money, resources for the household and auto repairs, legal counsel and networking and mentoring opportunities. For Callinsky, who has served on the nonprofit’s board since 2021, it’s all about empowering single moms to alter their destinies.
“My mom has always been an inspiration. She worked incredibly hard and I absolutely get that from her. We may have been short on a lot of things, but we were never short on love and support,” she says. “I want young women to know that just because they are here now doesn’t mean this is where they have to stay. You are not your circumstances.”
Callinsky – who is also an executive member of CHIEF, a private network focused on bringing more women into positions of power – is endlessly motivated by her family. Her husband Casey provides a solid foundation that helps her feel she can always reach higher. Her sons are also a source of inspiration – the bravery and boldness of her stepson, who currently lives in Barcelona, and her 10-year-old’s compassion and his fierceness on the soccer field. Both of them dream big and feel deeply, and are never afraid to stand up for girls and all that they’re capable of.
“It is a cornerstone of our family to help others. We don’t just talk about it, we do it, and we want our kids to see that,” she says. “Being in a position where you have enough for your family is a privilege, and I never want to take that for granted. By giving back, whether through money, time or work, you are reminded how plentiful your gifts are that you have extra to give away.”