Celebrating Inspiring Voices from All Over the World
In preparation for women’s history month, we did a lot of research to find inspiring stories and quotes made by women, which we could share across our social channels in hopes of inspiring other young women to dream BIG. What we found was absolutely maddening.
No matter how much we dug, we saw the same tired celebrity quotes that have been plastered across the internet for decades. Quotes made by inspiring women, yes, but only a handful of them, and the same ones across every site. What gives?!
Women have been shaping our world for centuries and have been responsible for more inventions, scientific discoveries, and breakthroughs than we’ve ever received credit for. Don’t believe us? Here are a few names for proof — Cleopatra, Madame C.J. Walker, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Ellen Ochoa, Dolores Huerta, Julia de Burgos and so many more.
And yes, once upon a time, women weren’t “allowed” to do a lot of things, so maybe they weren’t written about extensively, but times have changed; so shouldn’t we have more of these stories to learn from? Why are we left to make do with only a handful of movies, series, and books, when our male counterparts have so many to choose from?
This month, everyone from brands to publications to social media is talking about women. Some are doing a great job of highlighting those whose stories have never seen the light of day (Makers Women, we are looking at you!), but others are stuck in the same rut we found ourselves in — left to make do with the few women that Google has decided to honor. So as our way of fighting back and creating more representation, we decided to tell stories of women around the world doing wonderful things in the fields that we are part of — design, creative, technology, entertainment, and more — with hopes of inspiring the next generation to shoot for the stars and have the courage to say “I can be whoever the hell I want to be and no one can stop me.”
We hope this collection of quotes helps you find more women like you and inspires you in the same way it did us. Happy reading!
- Bibi Russell
Fashion Designer & Former International Model — Chittagong, Bangladesh
Bibi is a UNESCO Artist for Peace and a well-known Bangladeshi fashion designer whose sustainable designs have made a world of a difference in South Asia and have given thousands of people an opportunity to rise out of poverty.
On what motivates me
“I want to preserve the heritage of my country, foster creativity, provide employment, empower women and contribute towards the eradication of poverty. That is what I’m committed to doing. Save the craftspeople and help revive their dreams.” - Mona Hatoum
Artist — London, UK
Mona is an acclaimed Palestinian artist born in Beirut whose work challenges the movements of surrealism and minimalism and explores identity as defined by displacement in an increasingly divided world.
On her work
“[My work is] about shattering the familiar to create uncertainty and make you question things that you normally take for granted…this is what critical awareness is about.” - Ping Zhu
Illustrator & Artist — Brooklyn, NY
Ping is a millennial artist who paints with gouache on paper
On measuring success
“Success is contextual and fleeting, so when things are harmonious even for a moment, I try to savor it.” - Bethany Yellowtail
Fashion Designer — Los Angeles, CA
Bethany is a designer well-known for elevating her indigenous heritage and the work of the Northern Cheyenne & Crow Tribes; She serves as designer & CEO for her line B. Yellowtail
If I could travel back in time, I’d tell my younger self that …
“It doesn’t matter where you come from; you deserve to dream and have the same opportunities anyone else has. You are allowed too.” - Janelle Monae
Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Actress & Record Producer — Atlanta, GA
Janelle is an award-winning creative wunderkind who actively leverages her different platforms and audience to advocate for women’s rights.
On empowering other women
“I believe it’s time that women truly owned their superpowers and used their beauty and strength to change the world around them.” - Carla Hall
Chef & TV Host — Washington DC
Born in Nashville, Carla is an American chef, TV personality, and former model. She spent 7 years co-hosting ABC’s Emmy award-winning series “The Chew” and currently works as a Culinary Contributor on “Good Morning America.”
On staying true to yourself
“In a world where so many are trying to be like the majority, it’s refreshing to see women courageously own who they are.” - Justina Blakeney
Designer, Artist, Author & Founder of Junglaow.com — Los Angeles, CA
Born in Berkley, Justina is an American designer and best-selling author, known for her “boho” aesthetic.
On lessons learned
“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t make decisions based on fear. Know when to say no. Have faith in yourself and your business. Be nice to people. Stay humble. Give back.”
Enjoy this compilation? Follow us on Instagram @GallardoLabs for more inspiring stories like this one.
A huge thank you to Grace Bonnet for her beautiful coffee table book (In the Company of Women) which in large part inspired this blog post — Grace, we can’t thank you enough for bringing these powerful voices to life. We need more writers like you, that are willing to tell our stories, thank you!
