The Launch gURLs Team’s #WomenCrushWednesday

This article was contributed by Sciences Po Masters student Sylvana Lewin. Sylvana is currently our Marketing and Communications Lead.

Each week on Instagram and Facebook, we celebrate incredible women from around the world and their achievements. From Malala Yousafzai and Michelle Obama to lesser known members of our community, we love highlighting the amazing work women are doing! This week, we’ve decided to introduce you to our team members’ personal #WomenCrushWednesdays! Keep reading to get to know some of the women who inspire us! 

Shan-Lyn Ma

Kelly – UX and Operations 

Shan-Lyn Ma is the CEO and Co-Founder of Zola. Zola is a wedding planning and reinvented registry experience that was founded in 2013. This company thrives on user experience and wants to create a less stressful environment during the wedding planning process. For someone focused on UX, I love how she has founded a company that is very user-centered and customer-focused. 

Lupita Nyong’o

Anyoko – Marketing and Communications Intern 

Even after Lupita became an A-list actress, she did not change her natural hairstyles. In all her red carpet looks, she refused to conform to mainstream looks. That was one of the first examples of short natural hairstyles consistently in mainstream media.

Susan Lewin, My Mother 

Sylvana – Marketing and Communications

My mum is my #WomenCrushWednesday because she always strove to help others and make a difference, no matter how small. Although she didn’t work, it feels wrong using the term “stay at home mum” to define her. She was a PhD in microbiology who having moved to an ocean away from her family decided she wanted to raise her daughter to believe in her potential. She was a woman known for her work with NGOs promoting economic empowerment, gender equality, and more. She was a friend and neighbor who made everyone feel welcome and special. She was exactly the kind of woman I hope to be and to inspire other young women to be. 

Meghan Markle

Averil – Executive Director

Meghan has used her platform to do amazing things for girls and women. She is an advocate, activist, and feminist – and has put up with horrific treatment from the media and people around the world with incredible strength and grace.  Starting at age 11, she got a company to change sexist wording in a soap commercial after writing a letter to the company as well influential women leaders in America. She has one of my all-time favorite quotes “Women don’t need to find a voice. They have a voice. They need to feel empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen.”

Professor Pauline Dixon 

Agata – Curriculum and Experience 

Professor Pauline Dixon, who was my supervisor while at Newcastle University, is my #WomenCrushWednesday because not only she’s a powerhouse of a woman, meeting her has turned my life around. It is a strong statement to make but it is the truth. I was truly inspired by her incredible passion and drive to transform the educational landscape and the lives of students in India. I looked up to her as she powered through every challenge out there, always looking on the bright side. Most importantly, she was one of the first people in my life to believe in my potential (way more than I did!) and give me that extra push to realize it. Thanks to her, in March 2008, I opted to visit Hyderabad (India) to conduct research for my dissertation. During that time I met my to-be husband and moved to India in 2012 with the hope to live a life filled with love, meaning, and adventure. I was not wrong, this has been the best decision of my life and it wouldn’t have happened without Professor Dixon.    

Daniela Corpaci

Elena – Operations Intern 

My #WomenCrushWednesday is my middle-school math teacher. For being such an intelligent woman, a dedicated teacher, and so passionate about math, she is the reason why I fell in love with math. She always made me believe in myself and my skills, and challenged me to become better and better. She was so committed to making math engaging and comprehensive for every student, and she inspired me to share my passion in math through teaching. For me, she was an example of a strong and confident woman who knew her worth, and would never let anyone undermine or intimidate her, especially in a male-dominated environment. She is the reason why up to this day, I am confident in my passion and knowledge in math, and I am able to overcome the challenges of being a female-student in STEM.

Robina Moghis

Museera  – Curriculum and Experience Intern

My #WomanCrushWednesday is my mom! A medical doctor by profession, external circumstances forced her to leave her job and become a stay-at-home mom. Although it could be said that she doesn’t work professionally, I think she works 24/7 as a full time mom. She’s raised her 5 kids to be independent, resilient and to always have faith. She’s where I go when bouts of anxiety and self doubt hit and I always come back with a renewed sense of purpose and a mindset that tells me there’s nothing I can’t do! I’ll say I’ve lived a fulfilled life if I can become half the woman she is.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our Instagram where we highlight amazing women from around the world!