Whether through politics, entertainment, or entrepreneurship, there are so many women who are changing the world. It also just so happens that many of them are moms who also have to juggle their families and children while navigating the high-stakes world around them. Here are 18 women who are working hard to make a difference.
Michelle Obama
Sheryl Sandberg
Arguably the world’s most famous female executive, Sheryl Sandberg has been integral in changing the face of women in the workplace. Thanks to her bestselling book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will To Lead, the chief operating officer of Facebook and mom of two has managed to open up a national dialogue centered on encouraging more women, and mothers in particular, to “lean in” to the workplace, if that’s what they want to do.
Sara Blakely
Being one of the youngest self-made female billionaires in the world is no small feat. Following her great success, the founder and creator of Spanx — whose tuck-it-all-in undergarments are a part of practically every woman’s closet — decided to pay it forward. She founded the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation, which aims to help women worldwide become future female leaders through education and entrepreneurship.
Hillary Clinton
Who doesn’t know this name? From lawyer to mother to first lady to senator to secretary of state, Hillary Clinton has a prestigious list of accomplishments on her résumé, including being the first female presidential nominee of a major US political party.
Michelle Bachelet
A mom of three, the former president of Chile (the first female one at that!), doctor, and the founding executive director of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet is clearly a woman who holds a lot of important titles. Bachelet is a staunch advocate of women’s rights, who fights for issues including reproductive health rights, equality in the workforce, and equal access to education.
Maria Eitel
As the founder and co-chair of the Nike Foundation, single mom Maria Eitel is committed to transforming the world one girl at a time. And through her global Girl Effect movement — which is committed to bringing at least 50 million adolescent girls out of poverty by 2030 — she’s about to do just that.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Renowned economist and mother of two, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine in 2014. In her former position as the finance minister of Nigeria, Okonjo-Iweala helped revitalize the nation’s economy, increased government transparency, and actively worked to clean up the country’s tarnished reputation.
