Take The Lead is sharing your Power To Change Stories here, in our weekly newsletter, and in an upcoming ebook collection. Each week we highlight true, personal stories from around the world of how you are using your power to activate change. Together we can support each other in the mission to reach gender and racial parity in leadership across all sectors. Submit your stories here.
By Kayla Ende
The first time a mentor told me that gearing jewelry sales towards women was new territory, I was surprised and skeptical. After all, jewelry is traditionally associated with women and femininity. We’re the main market for it- how could gearing sales towards us be “new”?
Read MoreBy Marianela Nanninga
I’m the Founder and CEO of ToDo Robotics, where we’re not just building robots—we’re reimagining industries and redefining leadership. From revolutionizing hospitality and food service to blazing a new trail for automation, my journey has been fueled by a passion for innovation, a commitment to inclusion, and a relentless drive to make technology a force for good.
Read MoreBy Lynn Margherio
One day, while helping my young niece get dressed, I noticed her closetful of beautiful, outgrown clothes that could benefit another child. I imagined how many other kids had closets filled with quality clothes they no longer needed. That was my “aha” moment.
Read MoreBy Naz Aksu
In the male-dominated jewelry industry, I’ve witnessed how traditional, top-down leadership often overshadows collaborative voices. Early in my career, I chose a different path, prioritizing empathy and inclusion. By encouraging open dialogue, my team and I co-created a new customer service model rooted in mutual respect and innovation. The results—improved morale, stronger teamwork, and exceptional customer satisfaction—reinforced my belief that empathy is a strength in leadership.
Read MoreBy Esther Choy
After the election, I was in a discussion group where the leader wanted to create space for people to share their feelings. The leader assumed that everyone was feeling devastated. Anyone who may have felt differently faced a higher barrier to share authentically. Finally, one person expressed he felt exasperated by the whole thing. He didn’t vote, and he didn’t want to hear anymore about it. No one knew how to respond to his outburst.
Read MoreBy Susan B. Eirich, Ph.D.
I’ve had the privilege to live with and learn from the wild animals I’ve rescued and rehabilitated - wolves, bears, coyotes, foxes, buffalo and other mammals native to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. These experiences have shown me something undeniable: the profound connection between humanity and nature, and the transformative impact wildlife has on human well-being.
Read MoreBy Helen Curran
My passion for supporting mothers stems from my own experiences. Having navigated the challenges of motherhood while building a career in international business and marketing, I understand the unique needs of this audience. From my early days in Europe, working across Spain and France, to honing my skills at brands like Tommee Tippee and Berghaus, I've always been driven to make a difference.
Read MoreBy Laurel Mintz
The most impactful moment was the moment I decided to start Fabric VC. I remember starting to research venture capital after the idea was planted in my head of potentially launching a fund. At that stage of my life I had been an LP and had been investing with impact, but I didn’t really know the numbers. I was shocked when I first came across the 2%. If you don’t know. 2% and really less than 2% is the percentage of venture capital dollars that are allocated to diverse-led businesses globally. This was a shocking number to me, and ultimately was the reason that I launched Fabric VC. I thought, ”If not me, who…if not now, when?”
Read MoreBy Sharrie Woodring
When I was asked to share how I've empowered women in my industry, my first reaction was to laugh. I’ve spent the last 16 years balancing a demanding career with raising children, leaving little time for leadership activities.
However, upon reflection, I realized leadership isn’t about grand gestures but rather the everyday moments that shape us. It’s about quiet resilience, small connections, and the support we give each other, often without even realizing its impact.
Read MoreBy Iveta Kuzela
Growing up in a traditional Eastern European society, I always questioned the rigid expectations placed on women because I could never seem to fit into them. This left me feeling like an outcast, constantly second-guessing myself and my place in the world. To cope, I made myself small, dimming my light so that others would feel comfortable around me, believing this would help me belong.
Read MoreBy Dalene Heck
My journey has been anything but conventional. After climbing the corporate ladder in my twenties, my husband Pete and I decided to sell everything we owned and travel the world. This decision came after a series of personal tragedies in 2007 that made us reevaluate our lives. What started as a plan for a one-year adventure turned into nearly eight years of nomadic living, during which we visited 60 countries. We built a successful travel and marketing company, leveraging our experiences to consult with travel brands and tourism boards.
By Janita Pannu
For many small business owners who excel in their specific fields, achieving success in other areas like marketing can be a daunting challenge. As the founder of OPIIA, it’s my mission to empower small businesses to achieve big things.
My journey began as a freelancer, offering marketing services to small businesses. I quickly noticed that traditional companies like law firms and trades businesses lacked the marketing support they needed to thrive. This became even more dire during the challenging times of COVID-19.
Read MoreBy Hanna Pujato
My journey began in 2013 when I moved to the UK and enrolled in a beauty therapist course to improve my English. There, I discovered my passion for eyelash extensions, especially the new Russian Volume technique.
However, my path wasn’t easy. When I decided to become a lash educator, all the major schools rejected me. Instead of giving up, I took a small loan, got a teaching qualification, wrote my training manual, and started ordering products for students’ kits directly from factories.
Read MoreBy Wendie Wilson-Miller
For many, experiencing infertility is a difficult journey, both financially and emotionally. We see the media call our industry a “billion dollar baby” market, among other unflattering (and inaccurate) descriptions. In the US alone, we went from fewer than 10-20 legitimate egg donation and surrogacy agencies just a decade ago up to what we now think is close to 1000 - with very little industry regulation. It seemed every time a new article came out there was more negativity surrounding our field and its perceived “wild-west” nature. From my perspective, however, what I found was a steady stream of hopeful parents achieving the dream of growing their family.
Read MoreBy Summer Schneider
At Legacy College Prep, my goal is to transform the educational landscape for underprivileged students and teachers in the Bronx. After 15 years in the traditional education system, I realized the system wasn’t working. I saw bright kids in underserved communities slip through the cracks of the system. I could see where students excelled - and where they needed more support. In founding my own school, I knew exactly what I would do differently - fill the gaps. We are proud to say that 100% of our graduating class of 2024 has been accepted into college.
Read MoreBy Dana Frank
It's 1989, and I'm 25 years old. On my way to the courthouse, I'm listening to Janet Jackson's hit song, "Control." The irony isn’t lost on me—today is all about control. It's a typical rainy day in the Pacific Northwest, and like most Seattleites, I don’t carry an umbrella. I arrive disheveled. I sit next to my mother and see the back of my father’s head. When Daddy turns, our eyes meet. He looks so handsome and through his pearly white teeth, he shouts, “You just can’t keep that knife out of my back.”
I squeeze my mama’s hand. She squeezes mine harder. “Don’t let him bite,” she says.
Read MoreBy Dr. Namita Gandhi
Amid measles outbreaks and rampant health misinformation, it's more crucial than ever for children to understand their immune systems. That's why I wrote my first children's book, "Immune Heroes."
As a scientist and immunologist with 20 years in biotech, including developing groundbreaking therapies like Dupixent®, I know the immune system's vital role in overall health. Learning about our bodies helps us care for them better.
Read MoreBy Tami Kiekhaefer, LCSW
Love. We all crave it. We yearn for the deep connection and support that comes from a healthy partnership. Yet, for many women, finding and maintaining fulfilling relationships feels elusive. It doesn't have to be.
You have more power than you think to transform your love life. It starts with this truth: You cannot have a healthy relationship with someone else until you have a healthy relationship with yourself.
Read MoreBy Chritsen Jeschke
My 12-passenger van packed near to bursting, my four children and I set off across the country for a new beginning. I called it "an adventure," but in truth, it was an escape from an excruciatingly difficult chapter of our life defined by the struggle to survive the wreckage of a painfully destructive marital relationship.
Read MoreBy Burcin Advani
People who succeed in education are driven by a passion for unlocking opportunities. I learned this firsthand when I launched my first venture, an English-language tutoring service in Turkey. Despite the challenges, our commitment to student success kept us going.
Just as I started doubting, our first student enrolled. Six months later, they passed their English exam with flying colors, gaining a passport to a world of opportunities. This success led to referrals, eventually supporting hundreds of students in passing exams and accessing the world. The experience reaffirmed my belief that with perseverance and dedication, it's possible to build something transformative in education.
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