Hilary Newsom
President/Partner, The Plumpjack Group
“I am honored to be recognized by Dress for Success, alongside such inspiring women leaders. Throughout my career, I have seen and experienced how powerful it is when women are supported with confidence, opportunity, and community and that is exactly what Dress for Success provides every day. I am grateful to celebrate their accomplishments and to stand behind their mission of helping women thrive.” - Hilary
Q & A With Mary
How Have Other Women Played A Role In Your Professional Success? I've had wonderful women mentors who cared about me as a person and helped me with their advice. My first true mentor pretty much saved my life. She didn't know it at the time, and I was able to reconnect with her a few years ago and thank her. She had no idea. Natalie Berg, former President of City College and Chair of the SF Democratic Party, provided me with advice and career opportunities in politics in SF. Caryl Ito, a former Airport Commissioner and founder of PAAWBAC and the Commission on the Status of Women is the great connector and introduced me to many leaders in SF and always watched my back.
What Is Something You Would Tell Anyone Who Is Starting Off In Their Career?
If you are able to, try to vertically integrate some of the different facets of your life. It's a more seamless way of living and a more efficient way to get things done. It frees up time to allow for better work/life balance.
Why Is It Important For You To Give Back?
It is better to give than receive and pay it forward. We should all strive to make the world a better place, even if it's just a little bit.
About Hilary
Hilary Newsom has served as President of the PlumpJack Group since 2009 and currently leads as Co-President alongside Jeremy Scherer. She provides strategic leadership across operations, organizational development, employee relations, and marketing, with a focus on aligning business practices, strengthening company culture, and identifying new growth opportunities.
Deeply committed to philanthropy, Newsom established the PlumpJack Foundation in 2017 to advance initiatives dedicated to preventing childhood poverty and supporting cancer prevention, education, and research. Since 1992, PlumpJack’s philanthropic efforts have contributed more than $6.5 million to Northern California nonprofit organizations, reflecting a long-standing commitment to strengthening communities and creating meaningful, lasting impact.
CELEBRATE & DONATE
This Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we you to honor the Bay Area women who inspire us — and take action to uplift those working toward a better future.
A donation of just one hour of your pay provides a local woman in our community with the tools, support, and confidence to achieve financial independence. When we invest in women, we create stronger families, thriving communities, and lasting change.
Your contribution will help ensure Dress for Success San Francisco/ San Jose can continue empowering Bay Area Women with career wardrobe, core skills, coaching and community.
