Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women in Leadership
Preserving Her Legacy: Celebrating Women in Leadership Amid Erasure
In late February, NASA faced pressure to remove all mentions of women in leadership from their website, an alarming reminder that the erasure of women’s contributions is not just history—it’s happening now. This is only the beginning of a broader attempt to silence women’s voices and diminish their achievements.
This Women’s History Month, we stand against this erasure by honoring the trailblazing women who have defied societal norms, shattered glass ceilings, and paved the way for future generations of female leaders. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to uplift and celebrate the achievements of women—past, present, and future.
Historical Women in Leadership
Throughout history, women have led with courage, wisdom, and resilience, often against insurmountable odds. These women weren’t just leaders—they were revolutionaries, visionaries, and change-makers.
👑 Queen Elizabeth I – Navigated political turmoil to usher in a golden age of prosperity and culture in 16th-century England.
🗝 Sojourner Truth – An African American abolitionist who championed both the abolition of slavery and women’s rights, redefining social justice.
📚 Jane Addams – A pioneer in social work and women’s suffrage, co-founding Hull House to empower women and immigrants through education.
💡 Marie Curie – The first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only woman to win it in two sciences, setting the stage for women in STEM.
📖 Mary Shelley – The mother of science fiction, author of Frankenstein, whose visionary work challenged societal norms and redefined women’s role in literature and intellectual discourse.
These women not only broke barriers but also laid the foundation for the leaders who followed in their footsteps. Their stories remind us that women belong in every space where decisions are made.
The Women Who Made Space Travel Possible
When we look to the stars, we must also honor the women who paved the way for humanity’s exploration of space. Their contributions were not just groundbreaking—they were game-changing.
🚀 Katherine Johnson – Mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were essential to the success of NASA’s first and subsequent manned spaceflights.
📊 Dorothy Vaughan – The first Black supervisor at NASA, who became an expert in FORTRAN programming, ensuring the success of early space missions.
🔍 Mary Jackson – NASA’s first Black female engineer, who fought against segregation and contributed to spacecraft design and aerodynamics.
🖥 Margaret Hamilton – Lead software engineer for the Apollo program, who developed the code that landed astronauts on the moon, coining the term “software engineering.”
🌌 Sally Ride – The first American woman in space, inspiring generations of young girls to pursue careers in STEM.
🚀 Mae Jemison – The first Black woman in space, breaking barriers and advocating for science education and diversity in STEM.
These pioneering women didn’t just contribute to space travel—they reshaped history and redefined what women can achieve in science and technology. Their brilliance and perseverance continue to inspire future generations of explorers, scientists, and dreamers.
Modern Women Leading the Way
Today, women continue to challenge stereotypes and redefine leadership across every industry, proving that diverse perspectives lead to stronger, more inclusive communities.
🇺🇸 Kamala Harris – Made history as the first female Vice President of the United States, showing young girls that no dream is out of reach.
🌐 Yamini Rangan – CEO of HubSpot, leading with empathy and customer-centric innovation in the tech industry.
💼 Stacey Abrams – Political leader and activist who transformed voter engagement and representation.
📖 Malala Yousafzai – Nobel laureate advocating for girls’ education and global gender equality.
💡 Whitney Wolfe Herd – Founder and CEO of Bumble, empowering women to make the first move in both dating and business networking.
🌍 Greta Thunberg – Environmental activist who sparked a global movement for climate change action, showing the power of youth leadership.
📢 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – U.S. Congresswoman challenging political norms and advocating for economic and social justice.
✝️ Bishop Mariann Budde – Episcopal Bishop of Washington, known for her courage in speaking truth to power and advocating for social justice, inclusivity, and compassion in leadership.
These modern leaders are shaping policies, influencing industries, and empowering communities. Their leadership isn’t just about achieving personal success—it’s about lifting others and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Supporting Women-Owned Businesses
Women-owned businesses are more than just enterprises—they are pillars of economic empowerment, community development, and gender equality. By choosing to shop women-owned, you’re not only investing in quality products and services but also supporting dreams, breaking cycles of inequality, and uplifting entire communities.
At The Violet Flame, we are proud to be women-owned and believe in using our platform to support other women. We make a conscious effort to source supplies from other women-owned and marginalized community-owned businesses whenever possible.
We know firsthand the challenges women entrepreneurs face and are dedicated to building a community of support and empowerment. We also encourage our customers to shop women-owned and advocate for women in leadership positions across all industries.
When you shop with us, you’re supporting women’s leadership and helping to create a more equitable future—one purchase at a time.
Take Action This Women’s History Month
This Women’s History Month, make a conscious effort to:
Support Women-Owned Businesses – Choose to shop from women-led enterprises.
Mentor and Advocate – Encourage women in your networks to pursue leadership roles.
Celebrate Women’s Contributions – Acknowledge and amplify women’s voices in every space.
By taking these steps, we can challenge outdated narratives and ensure that women’s contributions to leadership and society are recognized and celebrated.
At The Violet Flame, we’re committed to uplifting women in leadership, supporting women-owned businesses, and continuing the legacy of powerful women who came before us.
Happy Women’s History Month! Let’s celebrate, uplift, and empower women—today and every day.
