Each year on International Day of the Girl, I stop and reflect on the recent incredible achievements of girls and women. Top of mind for me these days has got to be Kamala Harris, Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Greta Thunberg, Marsai Martin, and Sky Brown to name a few. These women are inspiring change in politics, science, sport, and media, and there are thousands more like them who work tirelessly to make a difference.   

We still have so far to go to achieve gender equality and to overcome the obstacles that persist for girls around the globe. The Covid-19 pandemic has only heightened this issue as women and girls are impacted disproportionately, especially those living in poverty. Nearly nine years ago I founded GoldieBlox to help close the gender gap in STEM. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of people push back on me, questioning why we put so much focus on girls? “Why not create STEM toys and content for everyone?” Everything GoldieBlox creates can be enjoyed by everyone, but let’s face it: the world is not yet equal. So, until it is, we will work hard to inspire, empower and educate girls and to level the playing field in those areas that are so key to their success and to our future. Educating girls is the key to building a more peaceful society and solving our world’s greatest challenges. 

So I am adding my voice to the conversation today. I challenge everyone reading this to tell the world about a girl they admire and why, and to support her in any and every way they can.