Author: Women Community

By Samar Khoury,  Brooke Shields may have gotten her first modeling gig at 11 months old and starred in her first film when she was a teenager, but she’s just getting started. In fact, the Endless Love star has been busy promoting confidence in women, operating her business and telling her life story in a gripping new documentary. As Shields’ business states, the beginning is now. Beginning is Now, Shields’ online platform and lifestyle brand, was 58 years in the making as she puts it—it’s her endeavor and her endeavor only. “I just wanted to create a community where we…

As the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Cheryl Durst is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society through both functionality and engagement in everyday workspaces and the built environment. Demonstrated by her active involvement in connecting industry professionals, including designers, manufacturers, clients, end users and employers, she has worked to promote an understanding of how design impacts human behavior and affects all aspects of shared spaces. In 1997, Durst joined IIDA as the Senior Director of Education and Professional Development.Today, with 15,000…

Christina Koch has wanted to be an astronaut since she was a little girl. Born in Michigan and raised in North Carolina, Koch held on to her dream and decided to pursue engineering as a way to secure a position with NASA. Now, Koch is not only one of the most integral engineers at NASA and a history maker in space travel, but will make her childhood dream come true in the biggest way possible.In 2024, Koch will join the Artemis II mission— the first Moon expedition in over 50 years. As the only woman on the four-person team, Koch…

By Gayle Martz-In a world that is striving for gender equality, professional women continue to face unique challenges and barriers. However, the stories of trailblazing women who have defied the odds can serve as a beacon of inspiration and provide valuable insights.As a former TWA flight attendant, I found myself facing adversity when my career was abruptly disrupted. At age 37, I was without a job for the first time in my adult life. I didn’t know what I was going to do, and then I had an idea—which actually came to me in a dream—that changed my life forever!The…

Women and minority-owned businesses are often underrepresented and underfunded in the United States. But thanks to some partnership and supplier diversity initiatives taken on by larger corporations, this doesn’t have to always be the case.One of the leading financial institutions in the country, Bank of America, has announced its commitment of more than $500 million in equity investments specifically for minority- and women-led funds, more than double its initial commitment of $200 million.”We work across our company to address critical needs in our communities, including the lack of access to capital that diverse business owners face as they start or…

By Bonique Edwards-In the pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in America, there are systemic obstacles that hinder progress. One such obstacle, often overlooked, is the practice of tipping in the service industry. While tipping is ingrained in American culture and often seen as a method to reward good service, it perpetuates inequity, exacerbates wage disparities and undermines the very principles of equity, which is very hard for many to grasp.Equity is the hardest to achieve in most cases because the penalty can be costly emotionally and financially for empowered colleagues, business owners and corporations. Many are unwilling to…

The lightbulb was created by Thomas Edison, the automobile was produced by Henry Ford and the first practical telephone was created by Alexander Graham Bell. We all know about these male inventors and their creations that are still utilized today, but we hear very little about the women inventors who changed the course of history with a simple idea. Here are some of the women-curated inventions that you might not know: Windshield Wipers While the automobile was changing the world of transportation, inclement weather conditions became a growing problem for daily drivers. After noticing the number of drivers who had…

Summer has come to an end and it’s time for students around the nation to get back to school. Whether your children are starting their first day of kindergarten, entering their senior year or taking on college, the “back to school” season can be equally exciting and stressful. To ease the stressors that come with a change of routine, here are some tips to help your family have the best school year yet:Establish Routines and Give Yourself TimeNo one likes to feel rushed or stressed, especially after a relaxing summer. Prepare ahead of time to give yourself and your children…

The voice of one woman business owner makes a difference. Now imagine the power and impact of the more than 100 who converged earlier this month in Washington, D.C. for the National Association of Women Business Owners’ (NAWBO) 2023 Leadership Onboarding and Advocacy Days. Leadership onboarding kicked off the week—setting the stage for success for NAWBO’s chapter leaders who came from near and far. They learned about running their business and chapter, and gained insights from a panel of past chapter presidents. They also saw how they can make a difference in their chapters and communities through diversity, equity, inclusion…

Federally Employed Women (FEW) a nonprofit working for the advancement of women in the government, recently hosted its 54th National Training Program in Columbus, Ohio. Themed, “Leveling Up For Success: Ready, Set, Grow!” the organization partnered with the local Ohio Civil Rights Commission and the Columbus Women’s Commission, in addition to a myriad of national partners and sponsors to bring the premiere training event to the Hilton Columbus Downtown.The week-long networking and training experience kicked off with a “Hot Pink & Jazz Masquerade” Welcome Reception and opened with greetings from Director Angela Phelps-White of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission during…