Celebrating Lady Groundbreakers & Change Makers for Women History Month
Who Run the World?! Girls!
March is Women’s History Month and we are highlighting a mixed bag of versatile HERstory making, record-breaking, badass women who are proving that girls really do run the world.
There’s a new generation of hard-hitting women with big dreams and even bigger dedication to paving the way and repping in spaces where women haven’t always been thought of as the change-makers. Let’s talk about Alyssa Carson, Naomi Osaka, and Malala Yousafzai. Alyssa knows the sky isn’t the limit, as she aims to be the first human on Mars. Naomi is dominating the tennis court with a mean backhand as the reigning champ of the US and Australian Open. Malala is a fierce freedom fighter who is working tirelessly to make sure young girls have the freedom to fearlessly chase and achieve their dreams.
Now you know we can’t forget about the OGs. These women aren’t asking for a seat at the table, they’re making their own and leaving room for other women to do the same. We’re talking Kim Ng, Ava Duvernay, Sonia Sotomayer. These ladies don’t need an introduction. Their names already speak volumes, so let’s give them their flowers. After dedicating countless years of her life to baseball, Kim Ng became the first woman General Manager in the MLB for the Marlins. Ava Duvernay is a decorated and innovative filmmaker who is the first black woman to win at the Sundance Film Festival. Sonia Sotomayor is a force to be reckoned with as she shapes change as the first Latinx woman in the Supreme Court.
Whew! We are tired just from just listing some of these accomplishments and these are just the tip of the iceberg. These women are continuing to show and prove that being a woman can’t stop and won’t stop them from meeting and even surpassing their loftiest goals. Read more to continue learning about these inspiring women.
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor became a U.S. District Court Judge in 1992 and was elevated to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998. She became the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in US history after being nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009.
Ava Duvernay
Ava DuVernay learned to speak through art, a vehicle for activism. She is a writer, director, and producer. She is the first African American woman to win Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival, be nominated for a Best Director Golden Globe, direct a film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, and direct a film with a budget over $100 million. Her work has made her the highest grossing Black woman director in American box office history. When They See Us, was nominated for 16 Emmy awards, making her and Beyoncé the first African American women in Primetime Emmy history to receive multiple nominations in their careers for directing.
Kim Ng
“Glass Breakers & Game Changers” Kim Ng’s has baseball running through her veins. Influenced by her Chinese American father, Kim grew up playing baseball to later play Division III softball for the University of Chicago and then became an intern for the Chicago White Sox for 6 years and she didn’t stop there. In 1997, she joined the American League advising MLB teams across the country. This is where she was born to thrive because Kim Ng was sought out to be assistant general manager for a couple MLB teams to later, making her biggest play yet, shattering a glass ceiling becoming the first female General Manager in all of North America for the Miami Marlins. Kim Ng changed the games history and was the first to make her mark opening the door for many more women in the industry.
Malala Yousafzai
“They Got Next” Malala Yousafzai is a 23 year old Pakistani activist for girls’ education. After recovering from an assassination attempt, she created the Malala Fund and became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at only 17. Conquering her dream of getting a higher education, she graduated from Oxford University in 2020. ‘Malala Day’ is observed on July 12th, Malala’s birthday, to honor women’s and children’s rights all over the world. Malala uses her voice and her platform in such a strong and inspiring way.
Naomi Osaka
“They Got Next” – 23 year-old Naomi Osaka, a 4-time Grand Slam singles champ, has taken women’s tennis by storm and is here to stay. With her exceptional dedication and focus on her craft, she has reached heights that no one else has. Naomi is the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam and the first Asian player to be ranked at numero uno. Osaka shattered barriers by becoming the world’s highest-paid female athlete and continues to reign as the US and Australian Open champ, seeming almost untouchable. Beyond the tennis court, Osaka uses her platform and insight as a biracial woman, to bring awareness to the injustices against both the Black and Asian community.
Alyssa Carson
Alyssa Carson — 19 is the only person to attend every NASA space camp. Her passion for space exploration led her to be the first person to complete the NASA Passport program in 2014. Alyssa already has several notable achievements under her belt; including a few TEDx Talks, becoming the youngest person to be accepted to the Advanced PoSSUM Space Academy and creating the first line of space luggage, Horizn ONE.