Dr. Nancy O’Reilly has dedicated her energy and made it her life’s work to empower and support other women, and founded Women Connect4Good, Inc., a 501(c)3 foundation to help other organizations working to do the same. With a passion for connecting she often says, “It’s all about relationships.” She calls her work her legacy and daily works to combine the power of doing what she loves with her drive to make a difference.
Why women’s empowerment? She says, “It’s simple. I have three daughters and seven granddaughters, which is really God’s joke on a woman who never even thought about having children.” In addition, when she was getting her psychology degree, one of her instructors said, “Whatever you do with your degree, make a difference.” And finally, she knows and frequently says that would not be where she is today without the help and support of the women she has met along the way.
As the community of women Dr. Nancy works with has grown and changed, she has continued to align with women raising their voices, lending her voice to the women who otherwise may be unheard. She has extended her reach to further the cause of women’s empowerment helping women around the world to advance and realize their fullest potential. Celebrating successes from all walks of life, she continually promotes the importance of women supporting each other as our greatest source of strength and shares the stories that connect us through her Smart Amazing Conversations with Dr. Nancy podcasts. She serves a number of organizations and works on boards, like the National Women’s History Museum. Every effort she makes strengthens the bonds of women working to engage more women in the march toward women’s equity and leadership—living up to the name Women Connect4Good.
Recently, Dr. Nancy has transformed her passion into purpose again, only this time it was her passion for all things equestrian. When she was at a critical moment in her life, a friend suggested that she start riding. Her original goal of riding for enjoyment and to do something new when she needed it most turned into a healing relationship with horses through a trusting bond of unconditional love that surpasses language. She says, “Horses saved my life.”
Riding turned into breeding, then showing and winning, and finally buying the Southern California Equestrian Center, a working equestrian center surrounded by breathtaking views 45 miles north of Los Angeles. Once home to Zsa Zsa Gabor’s famous horses, the center has grown to become the perfect place for horse shows, weddings, and special events. The motto is simple, “SCEC is a place for people who love horses.”
While keeping the motto simple, the reputation of SCEC is anything but. Since 2003, it has hosted Four Star Rated dressage shows seven times a year, attended regularly by equestrian Olympians. Dr. Nancy combines equestrian events with her desire to make a difference with things like the Are U Okay sponsorship at youth nationals. Geared towards reaching young people who may be struggling with mental health issues, bright, bold t-shirts promote the importance of reaching out and promoting a hotline staffed by trained counselors for help if someone doesn’t feel comfortable talking to a parent, friend, or mentor.
SCEC is also now perfectly positioned to bring Dr. Nancy’s passions for women’s empowerment and horses together. In the recently refurbished Grand Hacienda Retreat House, she envisions women and organizations that work to equip and empower women and girls connecting for strategy sessions, executive retreats, team building, and more.
Dr. Nancy will be the first to tell you that her work doesn’t feel like work. In fact, her desire to turn her passions into purpose is much more than a personal journey—it’s a tool for social transformation and how she impacts the world. Dr. Nancy is creating new possibilities for relationships to help grow and support girls and women in innovative ways. As she likes to say, “When we come together anything is possible.”