When I reflect on the women who have shaped our world, I’m struck not just by their remarkable achievements but by the courage they showed in moments of uncertainty.
Women’s History Month gives us an opportunity to examine these stories more closely—not just to celebrate these women but to extract wisdom we can apply in our own leadership journeys.
Cynthia Marshall: Leading with Integrity and Inclusion
Cynthia Marshall broke barriers as the first Black woman CEO in the NBA, transforming the Dallas Mavericks with a commitment to diversity and inclusion. She had already spent decades making waves at AT&T, where she championed equity in the workplace.
Lesson: Make space for others. Leadership isn’t just about advancing yourself—it’s about bringing others along. Consider: Who might be missing from important conversations in your workplace or community? This week, look for one concrete opportunity to amplify a voice that isn’t being heard.
Eleanor Roosevelt: Redefining Leadership and Advocacy
Eleanor Roosevelt was more than the First Lady, she was a force for human rights and instrumental in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She used her platform to advocate for marginalized communities and changed the role of women in politics.
Lesson: Use your platform for good. Each of us has influence, whether we recognize it or not. The question isn’t whether you have a platform, but how you’re using it. Where do you have the power to speak up for someone else? How might you use your position—at work, in your family, or in your community—to create positive change this month?
Hillary Clinton: Persistence in the Face of Challenges
Hillary Clinton has spent her career breaking barriers from First Lady to Secretary of State and the first woman to win a major party’s presidential nomination. Her advocacy for healthcare reform, women’s rights, and children’s welfare has left a lasting impact—especially through initiatives like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has provided healthcare to millions of kids. She has remained steadfast in her pursuit of progress through wins and setbacks.
Lesson: Keep pushing forward. Success rarely follows a straight line. What goal have you put aside because of setbacks? It might help to revise it with fresh eyes and a new approach. Persistence is what matters.
Shirley Chisholm: Unbought and Unbossed
Shirley Chisholm made history as the first Black woman elected to Congress and later ran for president in 1972. She refused to let political machines dictate her choices, standing firmly in her convictions.
Lesson: Stand firm in your beliefs. In a world that often rewards conformity, having the courage to stand apart matters. This doesn’t mean being contrarian—it means knowing your values and letting them guide your decisions. Ask yourself: What principle am I willing to defend, even when it’s difficult?
Bessie Coleman: Soaring Beyond Limitations
Bessie Coleman refused to accept “no” as an answer. Denied entry into flight schools in the U.S., she traveled to France, where she became the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license. She later used her platform to inspire future aviators.
Lesson: Create your own path. When traditional routes are blocked, innovation becomes essential. What creative solutions might you explore for challenges you’re facing? Sometimes the most significant breakthroughs come from being forced to find an alternate route.
Ida B. Wells: The Power of Truth and Justice
A fearless journalist and civil rights activist, Ida B. Wells risked everything to expose the horrors of lynching. She used investigative reporting to challenge injustice and laid the foundation for modern social justice movements.
Lesson: Truth is powerful. Speaking truth—especially uncomfortable truth—requires courage but creates ripples that extend far beyond us. Where might you need to speak difficult truths in your own life? Remember that documentation and facts, as Wells demonstrated, provide a foundation that opinion alone cannot.
Maya Angelou: The Power of Words
Maya Angelou’s works captured the struggles and successes of the human experience. Her poems and memories offered wisdom, strength, and healing and resonated across generations.
Lesson: Own your story. Your experiences, successes, and challenges have shaped you and contain wisdom others need. Consider sharing a personal lesson you’ve learned that might help someone else on their journey. As Angelou showed us, vulnerability creates connection.
Ketanji Brown Jackson: Shattering the Highest Glass Ceilings
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made history as the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her journey, built on excellence, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to justice, is a beacon of possibility.
Lesson: Representation matters. When we achieve in spaces where people like us are underrepresented, we create possibility in the minds of others. Who might be looking to you as an example? How can you make yourself visible and available to those who need to see that success is possible for them too?
Carrying Their Legacy Forward: Small Steps, Big Impact
These women remind us that progress doesn’t always require grand gestures—it requires consistent, intentional steps taken day after day. Lasting change comes from building habits that align with our deeper purpose.
History isn’t just about the past—it’s about how we choose to shape the future, one intentional step at a time.
The most powerful way to honor history is to create it—not just for a month but every day.
From March Inspiration to April Action
The lessons we celebrate in March deserve our action beyond a single month. This April, you’ll have a powerful opportunity to put these values into practice by joining us for Keep It 100%, Future Foundation’s Luncheon that brings donors, community leaders, and many of our students together for an inspiring experience.
This event embodies the very principles these women stood for—creating opportunity, amplifying voices, and building bridges across communities. As we honor Women’s History Month now, let’s commit to continuing the legacy of these extraordinary women by supporting the leaders of tomorrow.
Learn more about Keep It 100% here.
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