NEP Nation Blog

As Women’s History Month unfolds, I find myself reflecting on what it truly means to be a woman leader in a tech-driven, mission-focused industry.
There’s no simple answer
It’s exhilarating, challenging, rewarding, and humbling – often all in the same day.
Early in my career, I felt the weight of proving myself in spaces where women were underrepresented. Today, I use that perspective to lift others. At NEP, I’ve made a deliberate choice to give women opportunities, even when a resume might not check every box. The results speak for themselves: about 63% of our senior leadership and the majority of our tech developers are women.
When you bring together left- and right-brain thinkers, male and female developers, and a cross-functional mix of perspectives, creativity flourishes in ways a homogeneous team simply can’t match. Shubhangi Srivastava, our Chief Technology Officer, brings a fresh lens on software design that has helped us build tools that are technically robust, intuitive, and beautifully designed.
That creativity is reinforced by leaders across our organization who bring different expertise to the table. Devin Jones, our Director of Operations, translates big ideas into scalable systems and processes that allow innovation to function in the real world. Amber Liebner, Director of Customer Success and Enterprise Product, brings client perspectives directly into product development, ensuring the tools we build reflect how organizations actually work and serve their communities.
True innovation comes from giving people space to collaborate across disciplines and contribute unique viewpoints. When engineering, operations, product, and client experience come together, the result is stronger, more thoughtful technology.
Being a woman in leadership also means being honest about the journey. There are moments of doubt, high-stakes decisions, and times when you must stand your ground. There is also the opportunity to intentionally shape culture, mentor and advocate for others, and redefine what leadership looks like in tech. It’s about blending accountability with empathy, authority with approachability, and rigor with creativity.
The lesson I’ve learned is that culture drives results. When you cultivate a collaborative, inclusive environment where diverse voices are not just present but truly heard, you build stronger products, more resilient teams, and organizations better equipped to serve their mission.

That’s the real value of diversity and why Women’s History Month resonates so deeply with me. It’s a reminder to celebrate women’s contributions and intentionally build spaces where everyone can thrive, innovate, and lead.
This month, and every month, I hope more organizations recognize that when women lead, when teams are diverse and cross-functional, and when culture is thoughtfully cultivated, the impact extends far beyond the workplace. It reaches the communities and people we serve.
As CEO of NEP Services, Stacey Yudin has spent over a decade redefining how unions, associations, and nonprofits engage their members and communities. Under her leadership, NEP has become a trusted partner for mission-driven organizations—delivering technology and strategy that unite people, strengthen advocacy, and drive measurable results.
At the heart of NEP’s success is Connect Plus+, a platform Stacey helped conceptualize and bring to life.Designed as a virtual office and engagement hub, Connect Plus+ combines advanced data management with seamless communication, giving leaders real-time power to connect with members, committees, and communities from anywhere.
Under her guidance, NEP has partnered with 800 leading organizations including IBEW locals, public safety associations, and national nonprofits, representing 850,000 members—helping them modernize their communications, strengthen branding, and win the battles that matter most.
“Technology alone doesn’t solve problems,” Yudin says. “It’s about understanding people—and building tools that help them connect more effectively.” She also drives innovation and change at the heart of every conversation, “It is essential that we innovate or die.”
Her philosophy blends empathy, innovation, and execution. She believes that data-driven communication is the new frontier of member engagement—and that every organization has a story powerful enough to mobilize change.
A self-described “techno-optimist,” Yudin envisions a future where technology empowers, not intimidates. “Human creativity and technology should work together to create clarity out of complexity,” she notes. “That’s how we turn disconnection into unity—and unity into strength.”
NEP’s culture reflects her leadership style: collaborative, curious, and fiercely client-focused. Yudin fosters a bottom-up innovation model where ideas are encouraged from every level of the organization. “When people are free to try, fail, and succeed,” she says, “you create an unstoppable culture of progress.”
Stacey Yudin’s legacy at NEP is rooted in one mission: to help organizations tell their stories, mobilize their people, and win their future.