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.

Sharon D'Agostino / U.S.

Yodit Kifle Smith / U.S.

Oumie Sissokho / The Gambia

Esenam Nyador / Ghana

Valin Azooz / Iraq

Elisa Gambino / U.S.

Whitney Dowers / Canada

Senait Isaac / Canada

Janne Iversen / Norway

Victoria Melhado Daley / Jamaica

Bhavya Nandini / India

Francisca Mandeya / Canada

Mushairat Mamun / U.S.

Ruth Kilimo / Kenya

Angel Kharya / India

Olaoluwa Abagun / Nigeria

Mitra Kadarsih / Indonesia

Sumaira Yousaf / Pakistan

Jama Jack / The Gambia

Aleksandra Kuljanin / Bosnia and Herzegovina

Maureen Kanayo / Nigeria & U.S.

Andrea Vazquez / Canada

Franka Cadée / Netherlands

Andrea Jordon / Barbados & U.K.

Joanne Rama / Aotearoa NZ

Peace Osamede Smith / Germany

Sara Forrest Jaimes / Mexico & U.S.

Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi / Nigeria

Maren Dietze / France & Canada

Delphine Silvermoon / U.S.

Rebecca Smiddy / U.S.

Esther Mast / U.S.


Tandin Pemo / Bhutan

Toni Gwynn-Jones / Australia

Debbie Hudson / Australia

Gabrielle Filiou-Chenier / Canada

Mildred John / Nigeria

Michiko Kashiba / Japan

Priyanka Idicula / India

Binat Sasson / Israel

Clara Methie / Zimbabwe

Dagmar Ruppert / Switzerland

Ekaete Asuquo / Nigeria

Gigja Sveinsdottir / Iceland

Jigme Choden / Bhutan

Inma Esteban García / Spain

Shahnaz Shahid / Pakistan

Judy Ducatel / The Bahamas

Kinga Pemo / Bhutan

Laura Latina / Italy

Meseret Haileyesus / Canada

Linda Shewey / U.S.

Shirley Curtis / The Bahamas

Marissa Isabedra / Philippines

Mindy Ebrahimoff / Israel

Barbara Kirkland / U.S.

Deliwe Nyathikazi / South Africa

Heather Struckett / Canada

Noelia Greizerstein / Canada

Zinabua Girmay / Ethiopia

Maxine Hardinge / Australia
