By Dana DeMercurio
Every year, Forbes compiles a list of the “The World’s Most Powerful Women,” which includes the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé. We’ve got nothing against these women, but what about those women who didn’t make the cut…or where never even on the chopping block? With that in mind, we’d like to introduce our readers to 5 salt-of-the-earth women who are making a difference and leaving their mark on modern society through leadership, innovation and honest hard work.
Jennifer Dziura is no BS – which is exactly why we love her. If you’re looking for career advice and a little tough love mixed with explicit humor, visit GetBullish.com, Dziura’s ‘aggressive lady-advice’ website. Here you’ll find irreverent advice on ‘How to Attack 2015 Like a Badass’ and ‘How to Brazenly Ask for Favors to Boost Your Career.’ She might not be every woman’s cup of tea, but you have to admire her absolutely unforgiving and nonchalant approach to women in the workplace. We find it quite refreshing, actually.
While she is the first Latina to lead the historic American organization Girl Scouts of the USA, Anna Maria Chavez has long been a nationally recognized frontrunner in the world of nonprofits, technology, politics and engineering. Her lengthy list of accolades also includes her contributions to Latino communities, particularly those in her home state of Arizona. Chavez’s leadership skills and trailblazing nature have set her apart from the rest, making her a woman we should all admire and look up to.
Do you ever find yourself in need of some creative DIY projects or wanting to purchase one-of-a-kind handmade crafts? Brit Moran’s got you covered. Moran founded our favorite DIY website, Brit+Co, in 2011 to share her undeniable gift and unrelenting passion for hands-on projects and innovations. A frontrunner in the well-known ‘Maker Movement,’ Moran connects ‘makers’ with the step-by-step tools they need to design unique pieces of art, jewelry, fashion and more. Makers can shop the website, find recipes and even sign up for DIY e-classes! It’s chockfull of original and inspiring ideas that are sure to awaken the maker in you.
Meet Maria Popova, 30-year-old self-proclaimed “interestingness hunter-gatherer” who has been making waves on the web with her site BrainPickings.org. Her membership-supported and ad-free dot com has been likened to an ‘online emporium of ideas’ and an absolute treasure trove for those curious minds seeking a subjective lens on the things that matter most in the world today. You’ll find Popova’s resume is up to par, having previously written for publications including The Atlantic, The New York Times and Wired UK. Her collaborative site stirs up conversation about politics, science, technology, art history and much more. Pop over and check it out- but don’t blame us if you get swept up in all its cerebral glory…we totally did.
As President and CEO of Save the Children, Carolyn Miles’ leadership tenure with this independent non-profit organization is one that tugs at our heartstrings. Miles is responsible for Save the Children’s strategic planning, which operates in over 100 countries including the United States and provides literacy programs, disaster relief, health and nutrition education and disease prevention programs to children and mothers around the globe. During her tenure with Save the Children, Miles has doubled the number of children aided by the organization’s efforts, along with nearly tripling its resources – from $250m to $700m. Miles remains focused on ending preventable childhood deaths often associated with disease and malnutrition, and giving children in need the opportunity to reach their full potential through education programs, both at home and in the classroom.
