This blog highlights how Anne Ready and Catlan McCurdy are advancing leadership at Bridger Photonics through the Ridgeline Collective, demonstrating how investing in women’s growth strengthens teams, innovation, and long-term company success.
This International Women’s Day, the global theme Give to Gain reminds us that progress is not built alone. Growth happens when we invest in others, share perspectives, and intentionally create environments where leadership can expand.
At Bridger Photonics, that mindset is reflected in leaders like Anne Ready, VP of Product, and Catlan McCurdy, Chief Legal Officer. In two very different functions, product and legal, both are shaping strategy within their departments while also strengthening the broader culture of leadership across the company.
One of the clearest examples of that investment is the Ridgeline Collective; Bridger’s women’s leadership forum focused on three core principles: leadership, development, and culture.
The Ridgeline Collective brings women across the company together quarterly for conversations with external speakers, networking, and cross-department connection. The name reflects Bridger’s Montana roots — ridgelines offer perspective and elevation, which is exactly what the Collective is designed to create.
“Our goal is to increase visibility across departments, develop our pipeline of women leaders, and position the company for growth,” says Catlan McCurdy, Chief Legal Officer.
In many ways, the Ridgeline Collective embodies Give to Gain. When women invest time in one another, sharing experiences, lessons, and support, the entire organization benefits. And when leadership expands, so does impact.
For Catlan, the importance of the group is clear: “Cultivating diverse leadership makes us stronger as a company. A variety of voices at the table ensures we are considering solutions from all angles as we expand into new markets and develop innovative solutions.”
As Bridger’s customers evolve, so must the company. “Our customers are increasingly led by women,” Catlan notes. “If we want to understand their needs and build the solutions they require, we need to reflect that leadership internally.”
That reflection doesn’t happen passively; it happens when companies intentionally create pathways for growth. By giving women opportunities for visibility and development across operations, sales, technical teams, product, and legal, Bridger strengthens its ability to serve a changing industry.
Anne Ready, VP of Product, sees the impact from a product lens.
“I’ve seen firsthand that the quality of product development improves when more people feel confident contributing their perspective,” she says. “Strong companies aren’t built solely on great ideas they’re built on environments where people feel safe challenging assumptions, asking hard questions, and articulating a different point of view.”
The Ridgeline Collective creates space for confidence to grow. Not because women lack ability, but because growth accelerates in communities where shared experiences lower the barrier to speaking up. When individuals gain confidence, the company makes better decisions. When leaders give space, teams gain strength.
International Women’s Day is also a reminder that leadership is shaped by those who invest in us. For Catlan, a senior law firm partner once offered a piece of advice that stayed with her: “Outsource everything.”
Initially, it felt counterintuitive. But over time, the lesson became clearer. “I’ve used that advice not to disengage, but to build teams of experts around me that I trust,” she explains. “I focus on what I excel at and rely on others to contribute their gifts.”
By giving trust and responsibility to others, she gained stronger teams — and the ability to focus on strategic work that drives impact. That philosophy extends beyond the office: success isn’t about doing everything perfectly; it’s about investing in others and allowing their strengths to elevate the whole.
Anne reflects on a mentor who modeled something equally powerful: authenticity. “She was strategic and highly competent, but also candid, warm, and unapologetically human,” Anne says. “She showed me that authenticity isn’t a liability, it’s a strength.”
That example reshaped Anne’s view of leadership. By giving her full self to her work not perfectly, but genuinely, she creates space for others to do the same. And when leaders model authenticity, teams gain trust, clarity, and cohesion.
“Give to Gain” isn’t just a theme for a single day. It can be a principle that shapes how strong organizations grow.
The Ridgeline Collective reflects Bridger’s commitment to intentional growth, developing women across every department so that when we’re in the room with customers, partners, and communities, they see themselves reflected in our team.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women who invest in others, the leaders who create elevation, and the collective strength that comes from giving and gaining together.