Mayor Lili Bosse: Optimist, Activist and Student of Life
Photography by Philip Macias | Written by Arielle Harris | Creative Direction by Jessica Varone
Lili Bosse, Beverly Hills Council Member and two-time Mayor. She is the highly praised community leader and self-described “Optimist, Activist and Student of Life” behind an admirable and extensive list of philanthropic advocacy and fundraising projects. All who meet her can find her colorful sense of style and infectious energy just as fearless as she is. Find her at @lilibosse1 on Instagram and explore VisionaryWomen.com for other ways to join her movement.
The voice in your head says… “Never give up. I am most alive when I am around fierce and fabulous women.”
What message would you share with your younger self? “Know that everything is going to be ok. Know that exactly who I am is enough. Embrace my authentic self, that is where my power lies. Honor and embrace and love exactly who I am.”
How did you come into your career? “My parents were Holocaust survivors. I grew up wanting to have a sense of a community and having a strong work ethic- I did everything in my life to seek that. When my children were younger, I got very involved in their schools. My mother gave me this mantra: to never give up. It helped shape me to be a part of something bigger than me. Anything is possible. Start with yes and figure out how. It really became who I am from a young age.”
What has prepared you the most for your successes? “The sense of being an optimist; I approach everything that comes my way like, ‘We can do this.’ I really do believe it. Anything is possible. I approach it with an open heart. I am very much about positivity, connection, love and doing things with others.”
Do you feel there is a calling for your life or purpose? Who inspires you? “My purpose has always been that I love connection and feeling we can try new things: be fierce, be loving, be willing to blaze new trails, recognize that we are going to stumble along the way and with each stumble, we grow stronger. Because of our connection and community, we have created change. Everybody is welcome and feels empowered by the strength of one another [speaking of the weekly walks] …there was a shared vision, the walk with the mayor … it gave the world a glimpse that our community is welcoming to everyone. Connection and people inspire me. I am inspired by people who have an open heart and share their journey, to make a change in the world together. Each day, I get the opportunity to do something new…. I love people and connection.”
How does family factor into your career? “I have been very blessed to have a family that is supportive, and it allows me to have my voice. My job as an elected official is demanding. I have to make the time to prioritize family, and just for myself. I would like to sleep more! It’s a tremendous priority to have the quality and connection time with my family. It’s a juggling act. There are some days that I am not doing it so well … it is hard to say you can have it all. As long as I prioritize what will make me happy, that is the fuel for my soul.”
What accomplishment are you most proud of? “Having the courage to bring our city into a Bold Future. Beverly Hills for many years was a city that was a sleepy city. It became clear that we needed to be dynamic during the day and at night.”
Favorite relaxation practice: “First, I take a moment of gratitude. I religiously make sure that I exercise. I start my morning with exercise. I also take a few moments during the day to meditate, to keep a sense of thankfulness. It puts everything into perspective. Just five minutes to breath in and out recenters me. It’s being out in nature is where I feel I can exhale.”
A philanthropic organization we should know about: “Visionary Women. I co-founded the project four years ago and it now has 300 members; we have given $1.5 million to different women’s organizations.”
Your personal style: “My style is… fun, whimsical, cheerful, happy, and connecting. I love loving! It’s part of my style.
The power of being female: “The best power is that we have intuition and a sense to see things. We have an emotional intelligence that is unique to women. We are a sisterhood. You don’t mess with a sister. There is strength that women have that is unbreakable.”
Favorite relaxation practice: “First, I take a moment of gratitude. I religiously make sure that I exercise. I start my morning with exercise. I also take a few moments during the day to meditate, to keep a sense of thankfulness. It puts everything into perspective. Just five minutes to breath in and out recenters me. It’s being out in nature is where I feel I can exhale.”
Fun fact most people don’t know: “I love to dance! I have a horrible singing voice but I sing loud and proud. I will be the first one to have fun. I am never one to say no; I am game!”
What did you think you would be when you grew up? “When I was younger, I thought I would be a psychologist, because I loved people, and I love intimacy. I love connection. My life path did actually take me down that route, now I have connection and I follow my passion.”
What is the next? “I am hoping that Visionary Women will grow to a new stratosphere. I think women are just now owning our voice. We have always had that strength and power, but we had to give ourselves that permission to have that strength. I feel that we will have a woman president in the next 10 years. We are empowering each other. We are going to be what we want to be because we are honoring the intuitive strength and fire that is in ourselves.”
