This gallery includes portraits of inspiring women leaders I met while volunteering to help SayItForward.org at recent international conferences. SayItForward.org is an amazing web platform for women and girls to share their personal stories of self-empowerment. The love and grace that the women in these photos bring to the world every day, seeking solutions to some of our most difficult challenges, is truly inspiring and gives me hope for the future of humanity — something we can all use right now.
![Oumie Sissokho / The Gambia](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/abe458df-6cd5-4b3a-a870-e5aa4a42798f_rw_1920.jpg?h=55f9dce911a76eb5779146836dd1ac85)
Oumie Sissokho / The Gambia
![Mitra Kadarsih / Indonesia](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/a7df5e63-8424-4c56-bb8e-d8714fc92e0f_rw_1920.jpg?h=cceb5797920f982e76f46bb3dd0312f3)
Mitra Kadarsih / Indonesia
![Francisca Mandeya / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/e3e91ed4-e5cd-4481-921d-0a14cfeb569b_rw_1920.jpg?h=fc2bff5a2b6f4030238a8ce5eac4f3fc)
Francisca Mandeya / Canada
![Maxine Hardinge / Australia](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/b2d21623-5491-4b9c-ae5e-f8e0fb87c1a2_rw_1920.jpg?h=c001cb950807800c8e1f312208862ce9)
Maxine Hardinge / Australia
![Esenam Nyador / Ghana](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/2d48ee61-e586-479e-9c1d-548c3e35db32_rw_1920.jpg?h=47573d1f6b4cd280d0607eb8714c5028)
Esenam Nyador / Ghana
![Janne Iversen / Norway](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/6a8d8fb6-ea79-4ee1-aa92-0c569eb8f6c2_rw_1920.jpg?h=9039692acf19d0dce8d6aaecb9356cfe)
Janne Iversen / Norway
![Ruth Kilimo / Kenya](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/d8bfe6e0-3f1b-42ed-a6ea-301ed1848197_rw_1920.jpg?h=28e3ec0ef483bb2715f54d79b14a7724)
Ruth Kilimo / Kenya
![Sumaira Yousaf / Pakistan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/c5b4a3df-7477-4e43-96fb-d2a0a2af1fa5_rw_1920.jpg?h=ce93df61ae8da7b8cdebe9d00ddf5ff2)
Sumaira Yousaf / Pakistan
![Jama Jack / The Gambia](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/3c635b29-9bf2-418d-a6d9-060b9d4c919f_rw_1920.jpg?h=efd459543b0ae4eb94fddd3f972c1e3b)
Jama Jack / The Gambia
![Joanne Rama / Aotearoa NZ](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/bda9b1ab-24cb-44be-9084-a050d5af001d_rw_1920.jpg?h=7c9a8ece76ad9eb223982c3207266ca8)
Joanne Rama / Aotearoa NZ
![Andrea Jordon / Barbados & U.K.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/79ccc5dd-c666-4ff8-9818-bec1fbcfa02a_rw_1920.jpg?h=ce75eb9d85259505339105591f10ec81)
Andrea Jordon / Barbados & U.K.
![Aleksandra Kuljanin / Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/f5fdb2ff-6d22-4a08-81ad-a5d2d0d00552_rw_1920.jpg?h=fde527a97f6ccfd1227f2df122cca070)
Aleksandra Kuljanin / Bosnia and Herzegovina
![Priyanka Idicula / India](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/faffa19a-2627-427f-83ec-706fe15f3a78_rw_1920.jpg?h=42f534f87cf91dbf33ac2cc1595fcc38)
Priyanka Idicula / India
![Binat Sasson / Israel](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/e1d5e31f-154b-4284-8b97-adafafdd0830_rw_1920.jpg?h=698b20f8c4fa4335ff919894abb0a33c)
Binat Sasson / Israel
![Shirley Curtis / The Bahamas](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/cb780100-67f9-4177-b4b0-3a2554619a90_rw_1920.jpg?h=cfbdfa07e09b9336e39395814b82951b)
Shirley Curtis / The Bahamas
![Jigme Choden / Bhutan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/d42fa9f7-56b0-4f9d-b8dd-93a364ffe45e_rw_1920.jpg?h=421bcf439b258d449672493b068210a2)
Jigme Choden / Bhutan
![Zinabua Girmay / Ethiopia](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/3b97a9f6-66f1-4fda-b77d-dda9f85ac89f_rw_1920.jpg?h=000f1505aacf1f129a15c2a4d86c21dd)
Zinabua Girmay / Ethiopia
![Dagmar Ruppert / Switzerland](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/0f9ae7ab-92e1-4ec3-847b-5c5c72943499_rw_1920.jpg?h=24e06bbcb5fc906614ab4c11506fdbd7)
Dagmar Ruppert / Switzerland
![Clara Methie / Zimbabwe](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/8879bfc0-2ed7-43a1-8d5c-a01a351019fe_rw_1920.jpg?h=bbc2b186ce92cb46fb7cdd433dd01679)
Clara Methie / Zimbabwe
![Yodit Kifle Smith / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/b262534a-a37a-4dd6-97cf-560347d42403_rw_1920.jpg?h=3ec20b624a8ff340a7582f50b42be8dd)
Yodit Kifle Smith / U.S.
![Sharon D'Agostino / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/c39c360b-0514-44f2-ba3b-9cde0c6cff22_rw_1920.jpg?h=550cf4421ec940aa2e4d7201dc41fa6c)
Sharon D'Agostino / U.S.
![Whitney Dowers / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/1d145289-f690-4113-a1d0-caa900d55a00_rw_1920.jpg?h=a8d7019ff02f273e34b6ead62c02dc02)
Whitney Dowers / Canada
![Elisa Gambino / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/05505124-d470-4159-97e5-79922c4f50ec_rw_1920.jpg?h=65dbbcc3aeb11ce4fa7d738ac202556e)
Elisa Gambino / U.S.
![Senait Isaac / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/1531ad25-b383-46ae-b4de-b1e75d1d010d_rw_1920.jpg?h=7e6815dcfd6b61bc38d1506f8617eb01)
Senait Isaac / Canada
![Mushairat Mamun / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/d020d6d3-7bfc-446e-9301-f38e647bb74c_rw_1920.jpg?h=9d56f01512fbaed0ad89d6aa163203e4)
Mushairat Mamun / U.S.
![Victoria Melhado Daley / Jamaica](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/f87da9b3-a5ce-4cce-8a9d-38178f8b5585_rw_1920.jpg?h=7a6189634f94450e5daadb2a7253feff)
Victoria Melhado Daley / Jamaica
![Bhavya Nandini / India](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/f3619e6b-ca25-45e3-90ce-5aec06a52d71_rw_1920.jpg?h=2874b3f5de53a20036a5868b7c3d0a08)
Bhavya Nandini / India
![Angel Kharya / India](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/c3276e01-2aa3-42e8-a5b2-0cd6fe387cb8_rw_1920.jpg?h=ec3b5999ed34a9c8099dccb71fdc7ed4)
Angel Kharya / India
![Olaoluwa Abagun / Nigeria](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/a0ddcdac-48d6-4f97-972e-53446c8b8748_rw_1920.jpg?h=d222fb496c9265e41af001fdc791d96d)
Olaoluwa Abagun / Nigeria
![Andrea Vazquez / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/da7e388d-01d1-45d9-924b-8fd0041b27dd_rw_1920.jpg?h=eb8ca4e22bdb5ea892b7ce9f8669a902)
Andrea Vazquez / Canada
![Maureen Kanayo / Nigeria & U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/97d31f5d-5fa6-4552-a07c-1450a98f7a9c_rw_1920.jpg?h=e472623877203506ec351e99c68accbf)
Maureen Kanayo / Nigeria & U.S.
![Franka Cadée / Netherlands](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/f1139c70-80eb-433a-a2ac-27ed84250cb5_rw_1920.jpg?h=040d9f9a228cd4ca3dead2bdb8195116)
Franka Cadée / Netherlands
![Peace Osamede Smith / Germany](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/c86c72f7-c30b-4e09-b859-6412dae3e668_rw_1920.jpg?h=cd129a44b121ff12d9e9a64fed9ff732)
Peace Osamede Smith / Germany
![Sara Forrest Jaimes / Mexico & U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/b2a05b94-2cf2-48ad-b71d-c39a3e98c29b_rw_1920.jpg?h=9fee10dd5b6af0549d781b5bda5ef28b)
Sara Forrest Jaimes / Mexico & U.S.
![Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi / Nigeria](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/6cfbcc5a-b6d1-4b24-858c-06fe79116843_rw_1920.jpg?h=62be1facf377cc4dde3d2239d6eb26e7)
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi / Nigeria
![Maren Dietze / France & Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/96ff4f87-aa9f-4f07-9698-45e299eb1c1d_rw_1920.jpg?h=68712eb94fe23e6cc5db538d3b9ee28c)
Maren Dietze / France & Canada
![Delphine Silvermoon / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/1ba69aa3-93ec-4590-828c-7b6301ec56b5_rw_1920.jpg?h=d2fe0f98005b5c97f6c21d8906f8e6a8)
Delphine Silvermoon / U.S.
![Tandin Pemo / Bhutan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/aca8f217-3fdc-41da-b6ed-a84e6159b5f0_rw_1920.jpg?h=0c6b20e84a438b5d59ed4823bef3f8eb)
Tandin Pemo / Bhutan
![Rebecca Smiddy / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/660ec6a2-d73e-4246-a30d-337001cacc1e_rw_1920.jpg?h=70ab94510a08088eacbf0b356fae85b0)
Rebecca Smiddy / U.S.
![Esther Mast / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/debd8e78-44c9-47d4-a3fb-19355edb8aff_rw_1920.jpg?h=c6fd3d0ddb6165f8fd113d7085279473)
Esther Mast / U.S.
![Mildred John / Nigeria](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/b8397e8a-eea1-4450-9116-07b526d2ea07_rw_1920.jpg?h=897f943373431a760dc626d7b0aca66e)
Mildred John / Nigeria
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/6b493bec-a207-4c81-8d33-4685775a75db_rw_1920.jpg?h=6d1ab0159fe64b8b693e7385591449c8)
![Toni Gwynn-Jones / Australia](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/b7be0ce1-0054-4c38-8379-8c2e26b0ab62_rw_1920.jpg?h=e9aadeb4504c101cda0a3497badee183)
Toni Gwynn-Jones / Australia
![Debbie Hudson / Australia](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/b49f2361-2c9f-4b5a-bb6f-09da2170af9e_rw_1920.jpg?h=1148e975bef4128dc18bbfa038b8fad7)
Debbie Hudson / Australia
![Gabrielle Filiou-Chenier / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/5e3509e7-6341-470b-bd47-d9445dee31ff_rw_1920.jpg?h=2f7c50c8024ec72bd161b649d4d588da)
Gabrielle Filiou-Chenier / Canada
![Michiko Kashiba / Japan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/bb88de54-ffbb-4082-964d-f3219eed61a2_rw_1920.jpg?h=619b96573843bf78c08c4befe14e1d5d)
Michiko Kashiba / Japan
![Ekaete Asuquo / Nigeria](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/3d54b6fc-da46-4fb6-bfc5-d506f8b4f74f_rw_1920.jpg?h=ee971ce7ebeb90357f898accfa1c8fb3)
Ekaete Asuquo / Nigeria
![Gigja Sveinsdottir / Iceland](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/33ad2177-9324-42da-919a-af9d42635b04_rw_1920.jpg?h=dfc1a76157c6a2c422e14c120ca9b7fa)
Gigja Sveinsdottir / Iceland
![Valin Azooz / Iraq](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/dd9cd364-5e0e-48c8-96f0-0cdcb37f9423_rw_1920.jpg?h=27e6606a9181cb3933c22ac2eadfd252)
Valin Azooz / Iraq
![Inma Esteban García / Spain](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/f4c4771e-0af8-470e-a1e0-398dd91f3ebc_rw_1920.jpg?h=5afee1951e04ff1d112858d345c8296a)
Inma Esteban García / Spain
![Shahnaz Shahid / Pakistan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/a031ba7f-5197-49ff-9a32-a901a12d1ca8_rw_1920.jpg?h=34a744688e5f09dbc2a32c2c5a6bb760)
Shahnaz Shahid / Pakistan
![Judy Ducatel / The Bahamas](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/45f0854a-ded5-4ea8-a719-db8f40c94294_rw_1920.jpg?h=95e079a2114069796b46aea34c20d4da)
Judy Ducatel / The Bahamas
![Kinga Pemo / Bhutan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/97cfc497-4b46-4538-b8e1-ec5322f04755_rw_1920.jpg?h=fcec9905438dda838279f9c0fbc96c67)
Kinga Pemo / Bhutan
![Laura Latina / Italy](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/d89631ae-d8d4-4779-a2d9-e6edeb2462cd_rw_1920.jpg?h=b794a38f9df1b009c5a449e6ce84f1ab)
Laura Latina / Italy
![Meseret Haileyesus / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/3804d8a5-d192-4d07-ae1c-7a2128f6f292_rw_1920.jpg?h=3f6b3a60d5a3317c0bb64274a5ba4cba)
Meseret Haileyesus / Canada
![Linda Shewey / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/57ac4612-0a2b-46c4-a3f5-4f5f7c52a24e_rw_1920.jpg?h=c15ce67c9372a0cac3141c4ea2a6c8fb)
Linda Shewey / U.S.
![Marissa Isabedra / Philippines](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/73225b5c-16da-4102-990b-a908c4d85a7b_rw_1920.jpg?h=5e18adcf37e6e25aefff48b6428441e1)
Marissa Isabedra / Philippines
![Mindy Ebrahimoff / Israel](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/ed5df833-f78c-449c-9a79-4686ff895ae5_rw_1920.jpg?h=559922be7d6e8da8a7899d7c173843fe)
Mindy Ebrahimoff / Israel
![Barbara Kirkland / U.S.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/401b3ee3-a970-482f-a403-424fe3a08f79_rw_1920.jpg?h=a89a017f83986a3b054ff21555e19b75)
Barbara Kirkland / U.S.
![Deliwe Nyathikazi / South Africa](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/f4f74cdb-ddc3-4ad5-9aad-70c80936459b_rw_1920.jpg?h=13bf11d7185913af6354e57ce88eabcd)
Deliwe Nyathikazi / South Africa
![Heather Struckett / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/656b52fe-30fb-4bf8-8627-4f87fca7300c_rw_1920.jpg?h=f0b1423a21a09bba0a5cd8a7d99109d9)
Heather Struckett / Canada
![Noelia Greizerstein / Canada](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/ab32584f-779d-494e-9cd0-d32e58e6dbb7_rw_1920.jpg?h=55427d3769f0949ff8c581c27c63cf56)
Noelia Greizerstein / Canada
![Lia Brigante / U.K.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/657723b9ef8dd6cfd33c29f6014ccbae/78dcbf9f-d8bd-41a1-98a7-1c137fbea0f6_rw_1920.jpg?h=bf4f3953a9cd26f37cfa699f927eb446)