"I got married and moved to Houston for my husband's job. Little did I know that he was married to someone else. When I found out, I left him and his other wife found me and we shared stories with each other. Even though it didn't work out with him he forced me to grow-me-up and give me, the self love and security of being a trans woman that I needed to become self sufficient. Trying to live the perfect homemaker life led to a betrayal which then led to something beautiful." - Diamond Stylz is a blogger and produces the podcast Marsha'sPlate.
Jumoke Dada
"Since my father's passing I've noticed that I have so much of his strength. On March 9th, 1975 my father, Francis Dada, first stepped on U.S. soil. He was fearless and selfless and determined to make another life for himself when he left Nigeria. He came here and was a janitor at McDonald's and became a microbiologist and raised 6 kids. I feel like he was my celebrity. Everything he has ever said to me, I hear so loudly still. He said I was a pioneer in technology and he wanted me to reach my fullest potential. He was my biggest champion." - Jumoke Dada is a tech consultant and strategist for women at Dadaverse.org.
Cam Kashani
“I got fired from my own company when I filed for divorce. Although I was the one who put in the capitol, I didn't realize my name wasn’t on the business. Part of it was that I was asleep at the wheel. I think a man wouldn’t have allowed that to happen. They would have made sure their name was on the papers.” - Cam Kashani is the Co-Founder and CEO of COACCEL, the human accelerator.
Meredith Waga Perez
Meredith Waga Perez is the owner of Belle Fleur Flower and Fragrance.
"Imagine all day you are answering the phone and talking to people who share really intimate snippets about their life - like maybe they just fell in love with another student in their Graduate School class, or their sister just got diagnosed with cancer or their neighbor's dog just died. I always want to know what the story is so I can use my artistry with flowers to capture the emotion they want to share. This job really brings out my feminine side and allows me to tap into high levels of empathy, I am like the liaison of sentiment and emotions. Here in my studio there are little love notes being passed through me everyday, some are filled with the angst of love, some are a riot and have me laughing out loud others are so sweet they leave me crying in my office."
Payton Iheane
"One day I realized that people valued my work based on who I was married to. I got the sense that when I showed up not married to events it was a problem, that somehow a woman by herself isn't enough of a package? But I had, and women have a role to play in national security. When there are women gathering information and talking to other women in places of conflict, then we have more information, we know more." - Payton Iheme is the public policy manager for Facebook, former White House Senior Policy Advisor for Science and Technology and a former Army Intelligence Officer.
Rahama Wright
"I was on an airplane with my family and was seated next to an older man. He asked me to play Go-Fish, and while playing his hand started going up my skirt. I stood up and moved to an empty seat next to my brother. I was twelve years old, going through puberty, and thought I was doing something wrong - I always felt I was running away from my body. I wanted to cover up to avoid all the predatory sexual advances from grown men. I'm working through that body stuff now and working on empowering women in through my work in Ghana." - Rahama Wright, a former Peace Corps Volunteer, is the founder of Shea Yeleen, a social enterprise that promotes sustainable economic development in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.
Helya Mohammadian
"After my initial launch of SlickChicks I received an email from a woman who had limited mobility who wanted to buy a pair of slickchicks underwear in a size XLL. At first, I was manufacturing limited sizes and told her that I didn't have them yet in size XLL but as soon as I did I would send her some. Her request made me realize that the innovative product I had created for women to have a convenient way to change their underwear, also had a use as adaptable clothing for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, by the time I manufactured and sent the XXL garment to this woman, she had succumbed to cancer. But her daughter wrote to me and told me the most inspiring story. She said her mother was so excited that my product was on its way to her that she worked harder in physical therapy to keep her mobility so that she would be able to change her own undergarments and regain that dignity. While I am so sad that she never got that chance, the fact that slickchicks empowered her so much, erased any doubts I had about my product." - Helya Mohammadian is the founder of SlickChicks.
Ngozi Okoro
"I know what it's like to always walk into a classroom and be the only woman and the only woman of color." Ngozi is a civil engineer and started her company Fitwork.co to empower networking among women. "I have a unique perspective. I know if I hadn't been the only woman, the only black woman walking into those rooms wouldn't have impacted me the same way. I'm glad I had that experience - it gave me direction and inspired me to create my own company."