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Hope is alive

- in South Africa, Cape Town, January ‘18

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Brasil, happy engagement shoot

- Rosalia, Guajiru, October ‘17

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Published Author, Speaker, STEM Activist, New York City

At 19 Sasha Ariel Alston wrote a children's book called "Sasha Savvy Loves to Code", a semi-autobiographical story about a 10-year-old girl and her friends attending an all-girls coding camp. The book is meant to inspire young girls to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while also teaching some programming basics. Sasha had successful internships at Infor, Microsoft, EverFi, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Many Mentors, and the National Academy Foundation. She is also a sought-after speaker to encourage youth, especially girls of color, to pursue educational and career opportunities in STEM. Sasha was also the recipient of the Imani Award and the Prize for Achievement Award by Kurt Giessler Foundation, and was published in the Harvard Educational Review - Youth Voices. Thank you for energizing @wow.woman.official to keep finding and featuring inspiring women. 1. Name. Sasha Ariel Alston 2. Where is your hometown? Washington, D.C. 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? Author, Speaker, S.T.E.M. Activist 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? This has been an amazing journey. When I wrote Sasha Savvy Loves to Code and created the Kickstarter campaign, I didn’t expect to receive so much recognition. There has been ups and downs but hardwork and determination is key when you want to achieve a goal. 5. What did you study in school? I am a student at Pace University majoring in Information Systems and minoring in Marketing. 6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20? When I was younger, I only pictured myself as a college student in New York City majoring in Criminal Justice. It’s exciting to be at this point and see how far I’ve come. Not only am I college student in New York but also an author that used writing to promote diversity in technology. 7. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? My biggest accomplishment was being apart of the Disney Dream Big Princess Photography Campaign. This campaign celebrated inspiring stories from around the world to encourage kids everywhere to dream big. 8. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? I was extremely disappointed when I got rejections from book agents. My mom was extremely supportive during this entire process. 9. Advice for other women? It’s important that you believe in yourself, stay focused, get help when needed and never give up. 10. Knowing what we know now in current climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? Yes, from my own experience, I’ve noticed that there just aren’t enough girls involved in STEM-related activities. Raising interest and changing these statistics starts with exposing girls to STEM at an early age. One of the reasons why there is a lack of girls interested in STEM, specifically coding is because they are not exposed to it in school or at home. When girls are able to see themselves in the careers they want to pursue, it shows them that they can do it too. 11. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges? I plan to develop an education technology startup that provides students with the skills needed to excel in school and life. I also want to further develop the characters in my book with other projects. Finally, I will continue the movement to get more underrepresented people into STEM. 12. What inspires you? It’s very exciting to see so many organizations, programs and clubs designed to get girls interested in STEM. The film Hidden Figures which celebrates three African-American women that worked for NASA in the early sixties, has been a great inspiration to me and others. I am proud to be a part of this movement. 13. What are you hopeful about? I’m hopeful about all of the possibilities that will come out of this book and the girls that will make a difference in S.T.E.M. 14. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) I’m currently reading Welcome to the Real World by Lauren Berger. My favorite book is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. 15. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)? My mom inspires me daily and is a great role model. When I faced challenges with my major, my mom was always there when I needed someone to talk to. This is something that I am passionate about so I knew I needed to find a way to get through it. 16. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)? My website is sashaarielalston.com I am also working on a website for blogs.

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Beauty, Disability, Human Advocate, New York City

I have kept up with Xian's adventures over the years via Facebook. This amazing woman has not stopped moving and kept my spirits up in so many situations. The posts that really made impression addressed DOVE's inclusivity campaign called Real Beauty. Xian challenged the campaign organizers to include women with disabilities into their ranks. Since that video, Xian didn't let up. In 2015, she was chosen to be an “exemplar” for the AT&T NYU Connect Ability Challenge for the creation of assistive technology, where she worked with developers to help shape new technologies that would make it easier for people with disabilities to move through the world. Xian is a vocal advocate for women, diversity, positivity and is such a fantastic person to know. I feel honoured and lucky to call her a friend. 1. Name Xian Horn 2. Where is your hometown? NYC, Born and Raised! 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? Beauty, Disability, Human Advocate 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? First I had to throw out my fear (of rejection, stage fright, not-enoughness) - which I fought for years and years - but the breakthrough came in my twenties when I realized I had a message that was bigger than the fear - when I realized there were girls, and women struggling with self-esteem (something I knew so well because of my own struggle with it as a girl and woman) and when I realized I could and needed to help and be of service. 5. What did you study in school? English at Wesleyan, I never intended to be a teacher. But I realize all the schools I attended from elementary school onward, encouraged uniqueness, and our power to change the world. So adopting that mindset was the most important gift going forward. 6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20? All I wanted to do since I was 13, was to write a memoir, but I was a writer who never wrote - and with the exception of my blogs and a couple of short stories - It's the one thing I have not done yet that I thought would happen by age 21 at the latest. Haha. Better late than never, right? 7. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? The second shift beyond my fears, was not getting attached to one result or outcome - so not getting attached to one goal, person, or company I wanted to work with, like Dove, or Oprah,  but just exploring the present doors, windows, and paths that opened up to me - just following the Spirit one delicious breadcrumb at a time. That mindset opened the scope of my life to something so much bigger than just one opportunity and meant that my life is bigger than I imagined. I teach at NYU, I have worked with AT&T, the White House, I'm on a Film Selection Committee, none of which I planned or asked for - those things came to me - the shift was having an open heart and not going by what I thought was possible. I never wanted to teach, I am not a technologist, and I'm not a politician or a film maker, that's why I say often, my job is to be me...but being open is a big part of this exciting ride 8. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? I have had many disappointments in the moment, like heartbreak, or missed opportunities professionally, but with a long-term view of life I've seen that every "disappointment" had a purpose or something better came along instead. 9. Advice for other women? As women we tend to give our power away. You are beautiful, you are enough, and other people's opinions only have the power you give them. Also, seek authenticity instead of perfection. It's more fun! 10. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it for "feminist values"? Women are unstoppable and that is clearer now than ever. We all have a voice and as long as we live to our fullest potential, work together, and lift up each other (other women) - that has always been the way forward! 11. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)? I feel tallest when I'm in service - in prayer, in the classroom, speaking with others or to others, helping - that is the happiest place I know. I wake up smiling and grateful everyday that this is my life and through good work I grow taller everyday. 12. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why? Any adaptive sports - I loved surfing, waterskiing, parasailing, and soon, adaptive rock climbing - it pleases me most because it shows me and others what's possible - anything! 13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges? More service please! Not going to limit it with specifics! 14. What fears are you still hoping to overcome? Still have lots. I'd love to be fearless, and wise at the same time (one can do stupid things without fear) but fear reminds me that life matters and I still care. 15. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? I would have started earlier if I'd known what was waiting for me, but even the detours have a purpose, so no regrets, only lessons! 16. What inspires you? People who live without excuses, I still have quite a few. Hence, no memoir yet! 17. What are you hopeful about? The future is bright - I'm excited about what's ahead. I'm excited to be part of the greater plan. 18. What are some ingredients to a good life? Letting go of expectations is critical to enjoying life more, being of service, creating a support system, believing in something bigger than yourself i.e.: Faith. My faith in God helps me to feel free, protected, loved, and I know I'm never alone. 19. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) I love to give anything by Brene Brown: Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly. I'm reading three books right now! Two on Leonard Bernstein, (one with font so small I need a mouse to help me read it), and one behind the scenes of the movie Casablanca. My reading list is so frightening long, it may outlive me... 20. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)? I know so many women that are wondrous, generous, capable, selfless and still powerful - those who champion on behalf of women and the disability community because they believe things can always be better; Women like Loreen Arbus, Amy Bittinger, Anita Altman, Judy Heumann, and so many others. My mom always pushed me to speak up by her example. Her take-charge attitude is something I needed more of when I was a just a "nice girl" who was very afraid versus the woman I am becoming... someone stronger, someone with a message and a cause worth advocating for. 21. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)? My blog Twitter: @XianForBeauty83 Public Facebook Page: "Support Xian Horn Unite Disability and True Beauty" Website: XianHorn

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Venice, Italy

August 2017

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Roma 2

- Italy, July 2017

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Roma 1

- Italy, July 2017

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Biologist, Paraglider, Annecy, France

Esther took an advanced paragliding SIV course in Annecy, France. I was the impostor who was there by accident, observing and taking a regular course. SIV stands for Simulated Incidence in Vol/Flight, covering training for controlling the paraglider in extreme circumstances. Exercises involve completely stalling the flying wing, plunging down and re-inflating the paraglider, spinning/spiraling and regaining control, and other magnificent and exhausting maneuvers. Esther completed the course, and was always asking the right questions, reviewing the videos diligently and thoroughly. She is a biologist in Holland, but paragliding is her passion. I thought WOW, here is a kick ass chick sitting in a group of 15 guys, full stalling her glider. I need to get more information. That's how this post came about, I followed her on a typical flying day. 1. Name. Iris Esther Dielissen. 2. Where is your hometown? Zwolle, a medium sized Dutch city with a nice historic centre. For paraglider pilots: It is situated between our beautiful soarable dunes on the coast and the best towing spot for cross country paragliding in the Netherlands. 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? Biologist and paraglider pilot. 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? As long as I can remember I've been fascinated by the natural world around me. I am fortunate to have parents who love to travel and introduced me to other countries and cultures at an early age (for example Venezuela, South Africa, Namibia). My dad is a bird watcher so he taught me how to spot wildlife and notice the difference between species. So I am a biologist at heart, although it took me some time to discover that. I actually applied to study psychobiology at first (study close to neuroscience), but when I was hiking in the Azores, I decided that I wanted a study that had to do more with my natural surroundings, instead of doing research on rat brains in a lab. That moment's decision was very important and I have never regretted it. I now work for the regional government as a consultant in ecology and management of the nature reserves within my province. Before this I worked for a travelling agency for hiking & cycling tours. Paragliding is a (very important!!) hobby now, I don't know where I will end up one day, maybe again in the travelling business. 5. What did you study in school? Biology with a specialization in ecology and natural resource management. 6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20? I didn't picture myself spending so much time in an office, and actually like what I do. My brain is challenged in this job and I can use my skills as a biologist in a way that has impact, which is great. However I still think it should be temporary, say for a few years. The trade off is that my body doesn't get as much activity as it actually requires and majority of the time I am not exploring my surroundings but sitting at my desk. I hope in the future I can do work that is more balanced in both or I just go full force on paragliding and travelling for a while. 7. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? Getting a permanent contract on my current job as a biologist and to learn how to pilot a wing and fly my first cross country distances. 8. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? No huge disappointments.... yet! Only small ones, not one in particular that stands out. 9. Advice for other women? Fear less, don't think things are not for you because you are a woman, take a leap of faith now and then, trust your own judgement and go with your gut. 10. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it for "feminist values"? I think there is still a lot of pressure on what women should be, especially when it comes to appearance. Prettiness gives a women certain privileges and power over men, however I think for good looking women it is harder to gain respect in a professional career and to get opportunities to lead, especially in male dominated sectors. If you are a good looking you for example may have more chances to get hired, but there is less chance you are hired as a 'boss'. The way forward? I think women should help each other up more. There is too much competition between women, and too little empowerment. This is one of the ways forward, another one is to acknowledge discrimination on gender and on race still exists in modern western societies. 11. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)? In extreme natural environments. This can be in the air, flying but also deep jungles, an arctic tundra, on top of a volcano. The raw beauty of our world in these places is very overwhelming, making me feel very tall and very small at the same time. 12. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why? Paragliding for sure. Because it is very mentally challenging, but also graceful and explorative. Before I started paragliding (2015) I tried diving, surfing and was following yoga classes. But nothing has been as amazing as flying a paraglider. It is very rewarding in terms of experiences and I like the mental challenge a lot. 13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges? I think I haven't found my ideal job jet, or haven't found a way to make my current job my ideal job. 14. What fears are you still hoping to overcome? I would like to learn to trust my own decisions more. I find it very hard sometimes not to be in doubt, and just go for one way or the other especially in my job. In flying it can be hard to see the difference between 'true fear' and just making yourself crazy with scary thoughts that are not rational nor are your gut feeling. This is something that can be trained if you pay closer attention to your thoughts and feelings while making decisions. I hope that by training this while paragliding and being aware of the parallel with other situations in life will help me to grow more self-confident and be more decisive in my work as well. 15. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? Not really, I have very few regrets and am still behind the choices I made in the past because I honestly think they where the best I could do at the time. If I would have a second life to live I would maybe be single for a longer time to see how that feels and how that would influence my self development (I have been in a relationship since 17, 12 years now), but I don't regret any of the choices I made to live the life I have now. 16. What inspires you? Nature, flying and people that are bright-eyed, enjoying life and create positive impact with their job. 17. What are you hopeful about? About the fact I still see myself growing as a person even if I don't always know which way I'm going. 18. What are some ingredients to a good life? Flying, good food, sex, warm relationships and having a job that means something to you and has a positive effect on others. 19. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) I have just started reading Paul Auster's 4321, recommended to me by a friend. And I read Classic Routes a beautiful paragliding book with descriptions and pictures some of the most epic and best known cross country paragliding routes in the world. 20. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)? One of my best friends Merel, who a professional scientist in tropical ecology and recently moved to Switzerland for a post-doc. I really admire her take on life, she's very relaxed but not in a lazy way. She works very hard on her scientific projects and has a lot of ambition, still she always finds time to climb (she loves rock climbing), travel and invest in relationships. Bèta science is very male dominated, which makes it less attractive to women, but she is definitely holding ground there. 21. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)? facebook linkedin

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Burlesque and Trapeze Artist, Paris  - RiverFlowsThroughIt                                                          

True performers and chameleons are so fascinating to me, burlesque performers are even more so. I saw Rosabelle perform on Seine in Paris. She was the only non French member of the troupe with two acts - one you see here, and another one was something completely different and daring. It involved a certain red wig and a red shoe wearing hamburger king. She was daring and non-apologetic about it. The story continued after I discovered that Rosabelle performed burlesque in the New York's Lower East Side, was also participating in a circus and trapeze acts, all while trying to break into art scene in Paris and teaching children acrobatics and trapeze. I am so appreciative of Rosabelle's truthful description of her journey, her fluency in French and an overall kind demeanour. What a lovely, lovely woman I had the pleasure of shooting and chatting with over coffee. 

1. Name. Rosabelle Selavy. 2. Where is your hometown? Clearwater, Florida, USA. 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? Burlesque dancer, choreographer, costume designer, acrobat, and teacher. 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? The journey has been paved by one long beautiful mess after another. I've made a lot of sacrifices. There were risks and mistakes, but I've always managed to keep making art. I lost a lot of friends when I moved to New York to begin a career as a burlesque dancer. I was estranged by most of my family. I worried how I'd pay the bills and eat. There were plenty of tears and loneliness along the way, but I found new family and friends who loved me for me. The mental shift happened when I decided to remove my clothes on stage. It was a choice and commitment to use my body as an Art medium. I was told it would ruin me. It's true, there's no going back, but I don't feel ruined. My desire to express my discontent with society's rules , especially when it comes to being a woman had overpowered fear. I let a lot of people down when I decided not to lead a "normal" domesticated life, but I have no regrets.   I'm a lucky woman, nobody tells me what I can and cannot do with my own body. 5. What did you study in school? I have an MFA in Studio Art. In undergrad I studied Art History and Painting. When I moved to New York I began studying circus arts and dance with a specialty in trapeze. For the last two years my focus switched to ground acrobatics and contortion. 6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20? At 20 I had hoped to be making a living as an artist (painting) , but it was a dream most people tried to discourage and warned me I'd fail at. I've managed to make art a career but I'd never expected to be making a living as a performing artist, and a dancer/acrobat at that.   7. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? I think one of my biggest accomplishments has been moving to Paris, learning french, and finding work as an artist here. That is a dream come true. I've become a better person as a result. It was humbling to have to start over. 8. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? I think my biggest disappointments have come from feeling like an outsider in the art world, in circus, in dance, in burlesque. I am on the cusp of a lot of things. I had looked for a showbiz family to make up for not having a great relationship with my biological family. I thought it would be like an island for misfits.  Show business does not always work for that. My only plan has been to maybe be more realistic with my expectations of others and not seek the approval of everyone. 9. Advice for other women? Don't be ashamed. It's ok to be shy or reserved or selective, but don't hide who you are. Life is short, have the experiences that you want to have. Live! 10. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it for "feminist values"? We need to think about how to come together. I see a lot of arguing over hashtags and labels in the current political climate. We need to stop all of that and unite. 11. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)? I'd say on stage or even better, on a trapeze. 12. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why? Working with kids, teaching acrobatics, trapeze, circus arts. I love passing on the skills and circus tradition. 13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges? A mermaid. That was my answer when I was a kid and it hasn't changed. I guess I'm going to have to practice holding my breath underwater. 14. What fears are you still hoping to overcome? I have a lot if trust issues. Let's leave it at that. 15. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? No!! Maybe I would have started/rebelled earlier, but I've no regrets about where I am now. 16. What inspires you? Paris inspires me a lot. Not just the architecture, but the lifestyle. I like to watch people. 17. What are you hopeful about? New projects and new friends. 18. What are some ingredients to a good life? For me giving love and allowing myself to be loved back is really it. That's everything. 19. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) Gypsy Rose Lee's Autobiography 20. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)? My friend and fellow American expat living in Paris Louise De Ville is the Wow Woman in my life. She does a lot of activism in our community. She teaches drag king workshops, she's produced very political shows. I'm inspired by how she's been able to help so many people.

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Student and Humanitarian, Geneva, Switzerland - RiverFlowsThroughIt               

Carlota was a chance meeting, arranged by a good friend. She is such a shining star, full of hope, energy and enthusiasm. I thoroughly enjoyed her viewpoints on life in Geneva, her take on state of indigenous languages in Peru and hopes for a field position in Africa. I am completely certain that there will be updates about her doing fantastic things in the future and lives of those around her.

1. Name. Ana Carlota Moura 2. Where is your hometown? I always have an interesting time answering this one. I would say Lisbon, because that is where I was physically born, but I feel my heart is in many other places I’ve lived in. However, now that I’m closer to ‘home’, I really feel Lisbon is where I am from. 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? Curious and compassionate challenge-seeker/sustainability enthusiast/amateur musician & humanitarian data analyst 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? My mental shift to starting my career journey happened during the close time I was graduating in Anthropology. I was in Brazil at the time, becoming more and more interested in the challenges indigenous peoples face when living in urban settings, and I felt the academic tools I had were not enough to address and engage this reality wholeheartedly. My journey after that realization has taken me different places and allowed me to deepen my knowledge and practical skills in a search to achieve a more just world, in both socioeconomic and environmental dimensions. 5. What did you study in school? I studied fine art and graphic design in high school, Anthropology as a BSc and currently, I am doing a Masters in Sustainability and International Development, with a focus on renewable energy and agricultural transformation. 6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20? Although 20 is not that long ago (I am 22 now), life is much more beautiful, free and inspiring than I pictured it back then. 7. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? Travelling different countries out of my own curiosity and for projects I deeply care for, and feeling safe/free in this. Learning to trust people I meet along the way has also been a humbling exercise…People can be so much more generous than we expect them to be, and this is something I feel I have understood more and more: how interrelated we are, and how giving generates giving. 8. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? Having difficulty in building a relationship of trust and understanding whilst doing fieldwork in Peru. I worked in two NGOs, both involved in projects with Andean farming communities. One of the projects sought to strengthen rural communities’ capacities in tourism. The other project was on assisting indigenous youth in their academic careers, whilst also strengthening and revitalizing Quechua, an Andean indigenous language spoken by many of these communities, but unfortunately being used less and less. We were doing this by creating extra-curricular spaces where children (from primary to high school) could receive tutoring in order to succeed in school (dropout rates in rural areas are very high), whilst strengthening their native language, which most times was not used on a daily basis at their school, but was still the language their parents primarily communicated in. This generational divide, expressed by the chosen language of communication, is due to the prevailing prejudice against indigenous and peasant communities in Peru. So for the parents I was working with, prioritizing Quechua was not always the most strategic option, especially if they saw their children’s futures as being based in nearby cities. My response to the parent’s concerns regarding language preservation was for me to personally let go and respect their space and decisions in their relationship to me, and in the end, I felt my part was to understand their resistance to my hopes as an outsider and respect their own life projects and perceptions. We reformulated our project so as to respond to the real-life concerns of parents, whilst still keeping an expanding component of story-telling in order to support Quechua narratives and native oral history. When I let go of my romantic agenda of helping “save” Quechua, I realized the process of maintaining a language alive has to come from its speakers, especially children, who mostly use it for playing and in their daily chores. A part of this realization was learning the basics of Quechua and living with these families in their rural communities. One cannot judge what one does not know, and, as a European, I came to find my place in facilitating these communities’ intentions and projects, and not directing them. 9. Advice for other women? Putting self-trust and hope  as the first feeling and thought that moves you towards any decision/movement you make, whilst leaving fear behind. 10. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it for "feminist values"? It depends on which women, with which past and current constraints, and what is for them being "all they can be". There is still a lot to be done in generating intra-sex equality, even within a country. I think the way forward for feminism and the search for equality between genders is to create communities of support within every workplace or arena that is still difficult for women (in their diversity) to be in. We need to be supportive of each other in order to have a bigger say in the public and private sphere. I believe informing other women (and men, and non-binary persons) of the challenges of representation and participation has an important role in creating this supportive environment at a local and global level. Additionally, these supportive environments should be everywhere we go, especially when travelling. I believe we are unstoppable as a collective. 11. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)? My happy 'place' is more a journey, than a 'place'. I feel the happiest, for example, when in a van/bike, going somewhere beautiful but unknown (a waterfall, a lake...) 12. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why? An activity I am promoting and developing is C4SI (Collaborate for Social Innovation), a student-led programme that seeks to encourage students and international/non-profit organizations in engaging in social problem-solving through human-centred design. There is more and more, a shift to an integrated approach to innovation and entrepreneurship, which is seeking positive social impact, more than merely profit. C4SI tries to respond to this shift, by opening the space for participants to create the innovation processing in a 6-week period: from understanding how to place human beings at the centre of their solutions to a specific challenge (human-centred design); to prototyping, designing and communicating solutions, to presenting them and taking them forward based on an organization’s mission. C4SI is also interdisciplinary and gathers both technological, social and artistic components of innovation. If you’re just as excited about this as me, you can find more information here. At the same time, I am currently interning at CARE International, a humanitarian agency focused on emergency relief and long-term development projects. As an operations intern at the CARE International Emergency Group, I am involved in monitoring, processing, interpreting and presenting emergency response data as it is coming in from CARE’s country offices all over the world, to facilitate communication across sectors, countries and regions, and improve accountability. This has been an interesting process as I am getting an in-depth understanding of the challenges of describing emergencies – especially humanitarian ones – in mere numbers. The complexity of the data appeals to the complexity of the situations lived in settings with long-term crisis and conflicts such as South Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Additionally, this work has allowed me to explore the development-humanitarian nexus, as  social and environmental fragility often facilitates the emergence of a crisis. In my free time, I am returning to playing music and integrating singing/playing songs into my professional/work environment in a way that unites people I know. 13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges? I want to be someone that is grounded enough in order to be there for others. I want to be someone that has not lost sensitivity towards the world's problems, whilst being practical enough and contributing to solving them in some way. One of the challenges to this is a lack of self-confidence and a big fear of failure. 14. What fears are you still hoping to overcome? Definitely, again, the fear of failing to impact the world in a positive way, fear of being physically hurt, and the fear of not feeling whole alone. 15. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? Not too much, but I would try to learn more languages as a child. 16. What inspires you? Seeing dreamers and doers, participating in their joy and creativity. Witnessing compassionate acts. 17. What are you hopeful about? I am hopeful that we are collectively learning from our mistakes, and going on a more positive, understanding path (for example, regarding climate change). I am hopeful that I will also do this personally, especially with my family. 18. What are some ingredients to a good life? A healthy environment/mind/body, and a heart watered with love. Also, being by the sea is always a good thing. 19. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) I am just starting to read "The God of Small Things", by Arundhati Roy. I mostly gift short-story books, mostly of authors whose books I have liked to read. My favourite reads are: The Earthsea Cycle Series by Ursula K. LeGuin, and "The Book of Embraces", by Eduardo Galeano. 20. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)? My mom, as she is a living example of a strong, intelligent and proactive woman, who always takes on life's challenges with trust and respect, whilst deepening her self-knowledge. 21. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)? I am currently possibly developing an outlet to share my musical side, but for now, LinkedIn is the place where I share what I have been recently been up to, on the professional side of things. Feel free to contact me!

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Had a fan moment with Marilyn, and coincidentally she became a WOW WOMAN later.

- seen in Paris, France

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Captain, Marine Expert, San Francisco

The first mention of this WOW WOMAN was on a podcast called 99% Invisible. It was titled - Containers. This is not an especially exciting title and I didn't think much about it until Lynn Korwatch was interviewed. Captain Korwatch sailed on an American cargo ship as a first female captain. 1970's and 80's were not the friendliest of times for women sailors, nevermind female captains (I wonder if the times when men at the port ask a female captain if her "husband who is in charge" is on board are still with us). For this WOW WOMAN, when opportunity presented itself, Capt. Korwatch jumped on it. And even though she was 8 months pregnant, "being pregnant is not a handicap or something that should limit opportunities, it's something that happens and you gotta carry on with life" she said "yes, let's go". This trip was epic and you really should listen to the podcast to get a full feel. Fast forward, I'm sitting with Lynn in her office, snapping photos and asking her all about her experiences and inspiring career. She is now head of the San Francisco Marine Exchange - monitoring ships coming and leaving San Francisco Bay - helping efficient trading of commodities and more effective traffic in and out. Well respected in her current role, but further dreaming of more travels and exploring. 1. Name. Lynn Korwatch 2. Where is your hometown? Born in San Francisco, live in Alamo, CA 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? Executive Director of a non-profit trade association 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? Attended Cal. Maritime Academy, worked on US Flag ships, worked ashore managing fleet of 14 US flag ships. 5. What did you study in school? Ships operations 6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20? At age 20, I was attending a community college in the East Bay and I thought that I would be teacher. 7. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? Becoming the 1st woman captain of a US commercial vessel. 8. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? I have been very fortunate in my life in that disappointments have only been minor and not life changing. That is not to say that there have not been challenges. From job related; discovering that women in the company I worked for had limited advancement opportunities to discovering that my Chief Financial Officer was stealing money from the company. But, I am a strong believer that when one door closes that another one opens. I left the 1st company and landed my current job, which I love! 9. Advice for other women? Believe in yourself and don't accept being a "second-class citizen" at work or in life. 10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)? With my family and friends. 11. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why? I volunteer a significant amount of time to Cal Maritime, because while being in the 1st class of women to graduate was a challenge, attending that college was life-changing. 12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges? My life is pretty great, and my next stage is to work less and travel more. 13. What fears are you still hoping to overcome? Despite my success in life, I still often feel that I don't know enough and am not as qualified as others. 14. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? Not really. 15. What inspires you? The success of other women. 16. What are you hopeful about? Seeing more women enter the maritime industry. 17. What are some ingredients to a good life? Laughter, good friends and chocolate! 18. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) I love detective and mystery novels. 19. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)? My mother! She was a single parent for most of my life worked in many interesting jobs, including being a labor mediator for the State of California. 20. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.) Some students from Cal Maritime created a Wikipedia page about me.

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CEO, Women Who Code, San Francisco

Alaina leads an organization whose primary purpose is to help women break into and thrive in the tech world. This undertaking is not for the faint-hearted. Currently Women Who Code is in 20+countries and over 60 cities. Do you live in Kiev and want to connect to influential tech experts and investors? No problem. Accra? Sure. From Santiago to San Diego, Women Who Code values mentorship and female empowerment combined with honing in on the necessary skills required for professional development and career advancement. For a woman who travels between continents on the montly/weekly basis, Alaina struck me as a pretty grounded person. She is kind and passionate about her goal to grow and insists that "while the big picture is important, it's even more important to remember that the services she provides aim to inspire and empower individuals". And if there are any doubts whether she is hopeful about the future of Women Who Code, check out the last image in the series. Hope you peruse the website and spread the word to your friends across the globe. Empowering women in STEM professions is something I'm passionate about as well, thank goodness the outlook is pretty good for Women Who Code community. Thank you Alaina for your hard work and dedication. 1. Name. Alaina Percival 2. Where is your hometown? Atlanta 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? CEO and Board Chair, Women Who Code 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? My background is in marketing and brand management. However, when I moved to San Francisco I was inspired by all of the amazing things that were being done with technology. That motivated me to immerse myself in the culture of tech, learning to code, while also connecting with incredible people. 5. What did you study in school? I have a bachelor degree in International Business Relations and an M.B.A. from Georgia State University, and a Masters in Organizational Management from the Sorbonne, Paris. 6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20? Like many women I didn't think about technology as a field when I was younger. It wasn't until I started meeting amazing women engineers and saw the things that they were doing, that I started to see the possibilities and feel connected to the industry, so I decided to get involved. Now I'm helping to fundamentally improve a field that affects every facet of society, by making it more dynamic, and sustainable through inclusive practices. 7. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? My biggest accomplishments are individual in nature. Whenever I hear that someone's life has been positively affected, or that their career has improved as a result of being a member of Women Who Code, I'm more proud than I can possibly express. That's what our real goal is, and while the big picture is important, it's even more important to remember that our service is to inspire and empower individuals. 8. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? I don't find dwelling on disappointments to be a useful process. Sure you have to be willing to admit mistakes, to understand where things went wrong, and to try and correct them. However the focus should always be on what can be learned from mistakes rather than past regrets. 9. Advice for other women? You do belong. Don't be constrained by a mental image of what you are supposed to be. You can do anything, you can accomplish incredible things, and you aren't alone. There are so many of us out there already conquering the world. All you have to do is have faith in your abilities and you can help write the future of humanity. 10. Knowing what we know now in current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it for "feminist values"? Women can do anything and they've been doing it all along. Just in technology alone you have pioneers like Grace Hopper, Anita Borg, Jean Jennings Bartik, and even Ada Lovelace who basically created the technological revolution we are living in. It's vital that we keep that in mind and remember that women are a force to reckon with, and that they only need to be given the time, tools, and opportunity to succeed. 11. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)? An adventure is trying something new or seeing a new part of the world. Women Who Code is a global organization that is growing and reaching more people around the world every day. I’m thrilled my passion has finally found a match with my career. 12. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why? I love to travel and have been to nearly 70 countries. This isn’t what I’m most proud of, but it is a big part of who I am. 13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges? I’d love to start or lead a for profit company and I want to be on the board of a public organization. I’d love to continue to excel in my career and become a role model for other women and girls. 14. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? I don't believe in regrets. You have to live the best you can and your choices help make you who you are. If I had to choose, I’d have learned to code early on. 15. What inspires you? I'm inspired by people. They're so different, so varied, each with a perspective and a voice that is unique and wonderful. When I meet someone new I become a fuller person for having had the chance to experience in some small way their view of the world. And the more people I meet, the more I am amazed by what they can think, do, and become. 16. What are you hopeful about? I believe in people, in their capacity to grow, in their capacity to change, and in the ability of all of us to succeed, better, together, than we ever could apart. That will lead us into the future. 17. What are some ingredients to a good life? Chocolate, champagne, hope, inspiration, travel, my family 18. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) Honestly, baby books, they aren’t my thing, but I’m having one and need to increase my knowledge. The book I’ve given away most often is 1000 things to do before you die 19. Who is a “WOW Woman” in your life who inspires you (and why)? Anna Thomas ;) 20. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)? WomenWhoCode LinkedIn

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Community Volunteer, New York City

One of my favourite people, Renata and I volunteered together at the ER in Washington Heights, NYC. Although she put up the biggest resistance fight to be featured as a WOW Woman, I think few deserve it more than she does. Renata never stops. She never stops volunteering in her community, be it working with the local police precincts, sleeping one night a week at a local homeless shelter to provide support for homeless women or cheering NYC marathoners in her hood uptown. And this is all while maintaining a full time job. She is the most humble, kind-hearted, shy, loud Polish girl you will ever meet. If you're lucky enough to meet Renata, you'll know what I mean. 1. Name. Renata Zabłocka 2. Where is your hometown? Zamość, Poland 3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? I'm a research associate/research public health analyst in a social sciences division of a large international research institute. 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? It was a long journey to get me where I am today (physically and mentally), but somewhat spontaneous and easy, meaning that things just sort of fell into place. When I decided to stay in the United States, I thought I should go back to school. I was working on a graduate degree in forensic psychology and I needed 400 hours of externship to graduate. I got an externship, received a position proposal at the end of it and just celebrated 10 years with my company. Like I said, things just fell in the right place at the right time. I cannot say that I am religious, but I believe in karma. I try to be a good human being and I hope for good things to happen to me in my life. I am also a strong believer that perseverance pays off in a long run. 5. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? They say "if you make it here (New York City), you can make it anywhere". I believe it. I've been in the NYC for 18 years and I consider this city to be my home. I’d moved here alone and it had been a crazy decision. I’d never do it again, but I’m so glad I had done it when I did it. 6. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? Who remembers those?!? They came and went. I learned from them and became smarter (or at least hope so...). 7. Advice for other women? If you believe in something, stand up for it (this applies to all people really). Be independent. Try traveling alone. It's the best and most freeing experience ever. 8. Where in the world do you feel “tallest”? A year ago, I'd say standing alone in a street of a new city or a village in a new country, surrounded by people speaking a language I don't understand. Today, I must say standing in a rally holding anti-Trumpf sign. I have a couple of those and I hate that I need them. 9. What extra-curricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why? I try to give back and be involved in my community. I was an advocate for sexual assault/domestic violence survivors at DOVE (Domestic and Other Violence Emergencies) at a local hospital. I did it for 7 years and it tremendously impacted my life. I grew as a human being and I met amazing like-minded people that still influence my life. Now, I'm involved in a small 100% volunteer-run shelter for homeless women. We have 6 beds available at a church in Inwood, Manhattan once or twice a week. Our guests come to us from a drop-in center in midtown Manhattan. We spend time with them and host them overnight. I love my shelter community (volunteers and guests!) It has been the most humbling experience. I met women who are smart, educated and some HAVE JOBS (!!), and are still not able to afford a home. When you really think about it, this can happen to anyone I also love to travel. I am very lucky that my job involves a considerable amount of international travel in the past two years. This allowed me to get some new stamps is my passport. Outside of that, I am re-discovering the beauty of low-budget travel. It's a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world. 10. What is the future goal/challenge (career and/or life goals in 5-10 years)? I want to learn to speak Spanish and to dance tango. 11. What fears are you still hoping to overcome? I'm afraid of heights, but I can live with it. Nobody’s perfect. 12. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? All my experiences, good and bad, made me who I am today and I'm content with that. I really think that I would not change a thing. One of my dreams in high school was to study psychology at the Jagielloński University in Cracow. I tried and I didn't get in. Had I gotten in, who would I be? Where would I be? 13. What inspires you? Generally, smart and passionate people with a healthy dose of empathy. They don’t have to be necessarily passionate about serious things. 14. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) "The Feast of the Goat" by Mario Vargas Llosa. The book is set in the Dominican Republic and portrays the assassination of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, and its aftermath. My next book waiting for me is The Lonely Planet Travel Anthology: True stories from the world's best writers. I cannot wait to read it. 15. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)? I am drafting these responses on the train on my way back home from a conference in D.C. During the conference, there was a session on social network marketing. Presenter asked us to raise hands if we didn't have an Instagram or Snapchat account. Proudly, I raised my hand both times. I got many looks from people sitting around me. Being too connected is not a great thing for me. Clearly, I am on Facebook.

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Growing up in LA

- Friends moved from NYC to LA, May ‘17

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Author/Firefighter/Pilot, San Francisco - WOWWOMAN.COM

Aren't podcasts great? A voice, and a set of ideas were all I needed to get inspired and carry out bunch of research about the speaker - Caroline Paul. She was discussing her latest book Gutsy Girl, and it rang so true to me, that I was inspired to contact her and learn more. After months of trying to nail down common time, we met in a pub around Haight-Ashbury intersection in San Francisco, took some photos, unnerved hippies with our photo clicking and left knowing that we both participate in some crazy sports and share many other commonalities. Success in my books. It was hard to pin point the title for this post, because Caroline is more than an author, she is an adventurer, and not just adventurer, but think-outside-the-box adventurer. If you ever meet her, ask her to tell you a story involving the San Francisco bay, 4th of July and a kayak. Without further ado. 1. Name. Caroline Paul 2. Where is your hometown? San Francisco 3. What is your profession/career/title/self- label/designation? Writer/retired firefighter 4. What was the journey like to get where you are (career wise)? When was the mental shift to start the journey? (path through navigating all sorts of "male dominated" sports/careers and how you viewed it at the time and how you see it all having perspective, years later. Was it worth it, did it feel like it was "so out of the ordinary?" etc.) There were mental shifts each time I entered a new career, which I have done twice. When I became a firefighter, I was not expecting any seismic changes in my perspective. I had lived a life of pretty grand adventure and joining the San Francisco Fire department seemed an extension of that. I thought Sirens! Adrenaline! Big Fires! Of course, the job was so much more than that, and tested me in emotional ways I had not expected. The courage and integrity needed when doing CPR on a baby or giving oxygen to an elderly man who really just wanted some human contact, or treating the same heroin addict for an overdose for the third time that shift, or pulling dead kids from a crashed car – these far exceeded what it took to run into a fire, for me. It also took me by surprise how difficult it was to assimilate into a culture that was fundamentally male. I had many male friends, and I’d also been a pilot, a whitewater raft guide, and a paraglider and in these milieus I was more often than not one of the few females. But all that was a game compared to the firehouse, where the pressure was really on all the time to prove that I was strong and brave enough to be there. And in some ways it was a fruitless battle, because the sentiment against women ran so deep. It wasn’t unfounded – the job of firefighter is physically difficult – you carry a hundred pounds of equipment on you if you include the coats and boots and axes and airpacks, and THEN you have to work. And remember that Title 9, the law that guaranteed girls equal access to sports, had been only been ratified in 1972. So my generation was the first with a background in physical activity and so the first to embrace a culture of strength, teamwork, and courage. So women didn’t have a deep bench when it came to strong, adventurous women. As a result, I didn’t blame the men for their doubts, but the fact was that there were some of us that were very qualified and came to be trusted parts of a team. Being under such pressure for 14 years was no picnic though – you felt any mistake would reflect on all your fellow female firefighters. There was a flip side; I am very grateful for really understanding on a visceral level what it is to be excluded, what it is to be in the minority and what it is to face deep prejudice. Before that I was a pretty dumb white girl, blind to her own privilege, and all that she had not earned. I do want to say there were many very honorable men who were decent to me whether or not they actually thought I should be there. There were also men who were fine with women on the job, though they did seem to be in the minority. And ultimately I just loved the job – I searched for bodies in the bay on the SCUBA rescue team, I faced huge, raging fires, I birthed babies. Who can say that? 5. Biggest accomplishment since making the (physical/mental) move? After retiring I became a writer and I would say that publishing four books big New York publishers has been a big accomplishment. 6. What was biggest disappointment and plan to overcome it? I published two books without much difficulty. And then I wrote two novels, and two proposals and nothing would sell. Five years of my life! I was devastated and almost gave up writing. But then I wrote Lost Cat, A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology, which did ultimately see the light of day. So I dug myself out of that dark hole, through persistence, a little skill, and a lot of luck. There was a small, dark place in my heart that wanted to send Lost Cat reviews and sales numbers to the editors and agents who had rejected that and all my other manuscripts. But the truth is that the writing of each one, rejected or not, made me better at my craft, so nothing was really a waste, nor perhaps should the rejected manuscripts have been loosed on the world. 7. Advice for other women? Persist. 8. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)? 1000 feet in the air, over Tomales Bay in my ultralight. Seeing seals or leopard sharks is a plus. 9. What are some of your favourite sports that may serve as a good spring board to get girls into action and fearless activities? If one had to start slow and get them comfortable with risk? Stand up paddle boarding is very easy to do but it feels badass, bc it’s on water and it can be a little difficult at first. There are also some things to keep an eye on – tides, and winds for example – so it’s a step up from walking down a trail. 10. What is it like staring fear (and I mean major fear, like dying) into face? During your sports, etc.? What was your self-monologue? I know that fear is telling me something, but it’s often not telling me to step down. In many situations the feeling of fear is a reflex or a reaction that has come too late. I was once blown out of a hallway during a fire and as I picked myself up after the explosion I was freaking terrified. But then your brain catches up and you realize, hey, it’s over, you’re fine. The truth is that now the situation had just gotten a whole lot safer – the explosion had happened and now conditions were tenable. Fear wasn’t relevant anymore. It was time to go back into the hallway, and put out the fire. 11. What fears are you still hoping to overcome? My fear of not being perfect. The problem with growing up female in the US is that there is a deep sense you have to do everything correctly and if you don’t you’re bad, but in fact I’ve seen that the most grace comes from simply recognizing you’ve done something wrong, saying sorry, and pledging to do it better next time. I want to be that person. I’ve tried to adopt the mindset that I’m going to be perfect at imperfection, and that has been helping. 12. Anything you'd do differently (if you had another go at life)? Wingsuiting. However I would have to be reincarnated with a tad more common sense and be a little less accident-prone. 13. What inspires you? Women who do rad things. I just saw a documentary about some female BASE jumpers. It’s frustrating that people don’t realize how many women are out there performing brave acts and adventuring at a very high level. For a long time I thought no women did things like wingsuiting bc I hadn’t read about any but I did a little digging and there are a core group. How many, I don’t know, but definitely more than none. And we should know this! 14. What are you hopeful about? That the younger generation will shift everything we are doing and save the world from us. Climate change will be stopped and we will kick fossil fuels and we will somehow reverse our swift overpopulation of this planet. Our wild places will be saved, animals and insects will not suffer or go extinct. Oh, hold it, did you say “hopeful”? I thought you said Pie in the Sky dream. Honestly I am not really a hopeful person. I am hopeful about puppies. But otherwise, not much. 15. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?) I gift H.A. Rey’s The Stars. It’s a book on constellations. I think that looking at the sky gives us a sense of our place in the universe, which is, note to humans, TINY. We need to feel infintesimal if we are to survive, is my opinion. Am I on this rant again? Okay, I’ll get off it and add that when you look at the sky and recognize constellations, it’s quite comforting, bc there it is, the same sky almost where ever you go. 16. Who is/are inspiring “WOW Woman” (or Women) in your life (and why)? My twin sister. She is a dogged animal rights activist and all around kickass woman. My partner Wendy MacNaughton is an illustrator and she is the most creative person I know. She hates the word creative, but I don’t know how else to say it. Whatever the word is when someone takes an idea and makes it better/funnier/more poignant. That word. Better yet, she comes up with something that feels totally new, and you think Oh, Right, and your perspective is suddenly changed. Once you look through her work you’ll know what I’m talking about. 17. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)? Carolinepaul.com @carowriter

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our AirBnb hostess with the mostest...:) new photos on @thefourleggedofnewyork check ‘em out.

Lacey managed to be our little airbnb guardian

- FLONY in Santa Barbara, April ‘17