International Women’s Day: The Changemakers
Change is a double-edged sword. It can often feel unsettling – terrifying, even – to face periods of change. It signals a shift away from the certain present towards an unknown future. But it is also the only way that we can grow; history has only ever been made by those who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of a new – and better – world.
This International Women’s Day, we want to highlight some of the women who have made it their mission to incite and enact change on a global scale – to celebrate their achievements in building a fairer, more inclusive and equitable future.
Angela Lee Duckworth
Who is she?
Angela Lee Duckworth is co-founder, chief scientist, and a board member of Character Lab. She is an academic, psychologist, and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
How is she changing the world?
Duckworth is most well known for her extensive research which uncovered ‘grit’ – perseverance, self-control, reliance and ambition – as the most reliable predictor of success, not intelligence. From this research, she co-founded Character Lab, a non-profit to advance scientific insights that help children thrive. It aims to bridge academic learning to the people that need it the most – teachers and parents. Her research on grit has revolutionised the way many think about success.
What has she said?
“As much as talent counts, effort counts twice.”
What’s next?
Duckworth has been working on her untitled second book, which will discuss another determining factor of success: circumstance. She draws inspiration from her own mother’s dreams of being an artist, and hopes to offer a philosophy that reconciles the circumstances within and beyond your control.
Laura Boccanfuso
Who is she?
Laura Boccanfuso is the founder and CEO of Van Robotics, a social robotics company that develops AI-enabled robots and robot kits to promote high impact learning opportunities.
How is she changing the world?
Boccanfuso started her PhD in computer science after being a stay-at-home mother for eight years. While studying, she wrote the original code for a social robot that helps children overcome learning barriers. This led to her founding and being CEO of Van Robotics. Her experience when approaching venture capitalists revealed the sexism women face in the startup ecosystem, when one VC chose not to support her because “her husband wasn’t part of the business or leading it with her.”
Now, her pioneer smart robot tutor ‘ABii’ is being used in schools and homes in 38 US states and seven countries – that’s 100,000 students and teachers – to support classroom and at-home learning.
What has she said?
“Don’t look for validation from investors or other entrepreneurs. Do your research, and prove it to yourself. Prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.”
What’s next?
Boccanfuso recently rolled out the Classroom to Career program: high school students are sent ABii robot parts to build robotics and machine learning skills. She hopes this will create a peer ecosystem and encourage high school students to choose a STEM pathway. “When girls or underrepresented minorities see there’s an application to work with people through technology – this could be a connection piece,” she says.
Wai Wai Nu
Who is she?
Wai Wai Nu is a Burmese activist and the founder and Executive Director of the Women Peace Network in Myanmar.
How is she changing the world?
When Nu was just 18, she was imprisoned for seven years due to her father’s political activism against the military dictatorship in Myanmar. Since being released in 2012, Nu has worked towards the pursuit of democracy, human and women’s rights by founding the NGO Women Peace Network. The organisation is composed of lawyers, community leaders, and peace activists who work to build understanding between Myanmar’s ethnic communities, advocate for the rights of marginalised women and provide educational programs in peace building to inspire the next generation of leaders in Myanmar.
What has she said?
“We deserve to have hope. And that hope will only be alive when the world is with us and if they listen to us.”
What’s next?
In 2021, the military regained control of Myanmar. Nu continues to push for allied countries to provide practical, concrete action to help the Rohingya people, other minorities and Myanmar’s citizens.
Fernanda Ribeiro
Who is she?
Fernanda Ribeiro is the co-founder and COO of Brazilian digital bank Conta Black, which focuses on providing credit and financial education to black consumers.
How is she changing the world?
70% of Brazilians without a bank account are black. Ribeiro and co-founder Sergio All created Conta Black in order to boost financial inclusion by creating an entire financial ecosystem focused on black consumers. The bank now has 30,000 customers, primarily based in the outskirts of major cities across Brazil.
What has she said?
“We know there is a lack of black people in decision-making positions in organisations, but we also know there are good intentions to change the current reality.”
What’s next?
The bank aims to extend financial inclusion to 100,000 people within 18 months. Ribeiro has emphasised that she wants to grow the company sustainably, focusing on ESG principles.
Ursula von der Leyen
Who is she?
Ursula von der Leyen is the president of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union.
How is she changing the world?
Von der Leyen is the first woman to serve in the role and is responsible for legislation affecting more than 450 million Europeans. She took the post in 2019, guiding Europe through one of the most turbulent periods of recent history, including launching a €800bn Covid recovery fund (Next Generation EU) and committing to support Ukraine’s defence against Russian armed forces for “as long as it takes.”
What has she said?
“[The] myriad of fine threads woven together make a bond that is stronger than any individual point of discord.”
What’s next?
At this year’s World Economic Forum Annual meeting in Davos, Von der Leyen announced the Green Deal Industrial Plan to help Europe compete as a manufacturing hub for green investment. “Europe is determined to lead the clean-tech revolution,” she said.
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin
Who is she?
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin is the founder and Executive Director of the Pearls Africa Foundation, an NGO focused on promoting the advancement of vulnerable young girls and women in Africa by teaching them technological skills in the pursuit of financial independence.
How is she changing the world?
By providing young girls with technological skills, Ajayi-Akinfolarin is giving them the tools to become financially independent. Their flagship project is Girls Coding, which empowers underserved and underrepresented girls with tech skills in computer programming. As part of the mentorship, girls must choose a social issue within their community and use their newfound digital and coding skills to help find solutions.
What has she said?
“They are coders. They are thinkers. Their future is bright.”
What’s next?
Ajayi-Akinfolarin recently joined the YWCA Cambridge, MA Board of Directors. It is the city’s largest residential housing provider for women, and is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Christine Lagarde
Who is she?
Christine Lagarde is the President of the European Central Bank.
How is she changing the world?
Lagarde became the first woman to head the European Central Bank in 2019. Lagarde staunchly criticised the male domination of the banking world when the 2008 financial crisis hit, attributing the lack of gender equity to the ‘groupthink’ that ran rampant in the industry – and remains still. “If it had been Lehman Sisters … the world might well look a lot different today,” she claims, believing that gender diversity in the banking industry is an imperative in preventing future financial crises.
What has she said?
“To me, leadership is about encouraging people. It’s about stimulating them. It’s about enabling them to achieve what they can achieve – and to do that with a purpose.”
What’s next?
At a speech in Eschborn, Germany, Lagarde said that for the coming year, the bank will show “more self-confidence, more assertiveness and the right policies in place fuelling green and digital growth,” while keeping their long held goal of bringing inflation back to their 2% target.
Further reading:
The Story of Women by Numbers. We take a look at the story of women around the world through the lens of statistics.
The Women Advancing Purposeful Business. The women who are pioneering new ways for business to be a force for good.
Nancy Speidel’s Mission to Elevate Women in Business. We talk to Nancy Speidel, Founder and CEO for iSAW, about how we can achieve gender equality in industries worldwide.
