Leaders Who Advocate for Women Beyond International Women’s Day
Ashley Fernandez
Janessa Mondestin
Julia Lechner
Lauren Vilips
Lindsay Krasnoff
Melissa Lohrer
Oriana J. Medlicott
Samantha Karlin
Sandhya Sabapathy
Ashley Fernandez Janessa Mondestin Julia Lechner Lauren Vilips Lindsay Krasnoff Melissa Lohrer Oriana J. Medlicott Samantha Karlin Sandhya Sabapathy
Excited about celebrating the achievements of women and gender diverse leaders beyond International Women's Day and Women’s History Month?
To kick things off this month, we're putting the spotlight on a selection of remarkable leaders who are actively advocating for women's advancement, breaking barriers, and driving change every day of the year. These individuals have spearheaded initiatives, founded organizations, and led by example to create a more inclusive and equitable world for women and gender diverse people everywhere.
Explore their inspiring journeys and impactful contributions, and discover how you can support and connect with these influential leaders. It's time to celebrate and amplify their voices now, and beyond International Women's Day!
Organizational Strategists
Ashley Fernandez
Ashley Marie, also known as the “Corporate Success Queen,” is a workplace success expert and visionary leader dedicated to redefining leadership and shifting the consciousness in corporate environments. With a unique blend of expertise in HR, talent strategy, DEI, and coaching, she empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential, fostering inclusive cultures and high-performing teams. Through her dynamic approach and commitment to personal and professional growth, Ashley Marie inspires transformative change and champions a new era of success in the corporate world.
Beyond IWD…
Ashley Marie's work champions the advancement of first-gen, Latinx, and working moms, focusing on their unique intersections in corporate settings. Through tailored strategies and unwavering support, she empowers these individuals to break through barriers, excel in their careers, and thrive as leaders. With bold advocacy and inclusive initiatives, Ashley Marie is reshaping corporate landscapes, ensuring diverse voices are not only heard but celebrated.
Ashley’s Work: https://ashleymariecoaching.com/
Samantha Karlin is a Leadership Trainer and Executive Coach, teaching a groundbreaking women's leadership challenge. She’s also the host of the “Samanthropolitics” podcast, and a TEDx speaker.
Beyond IWD…
Samantha teaches a feminist leadership program where she works with aspiring change-makers, e.g. women who want to “step into their power, shatter glass ceilings, carve out their legacies, and foster social and institutional change” with over 100 alumnae, from 36 countries.
Samantha is also working on a book about feminist leadership, and on her podcast, Samantha speaks from a feminist foreign policy lens.
Samantha’s Work: http://www.womensleadershipchallenge.com
Janessa Mondestin is a passionate people strategist devoted to empowering leaders and cultivating inclusive, high-performing cultures. With expertise from Wharton and Fordham, Janessa streamlines operations and spearheads talent initiatives for organizations ranging from startups to global enterprises.
Beyond IWD…
Janessa leverages her expertise to challenge workplace inequities and cultivate inclusive cultures where diverse talent can thrive, from family-friendly policies, pay equity audits, diverse leadership pipelines, leading anti-bias education, bolstering advancement of historically excluded groups, and championing mentorship and sponsorship opportunities. Janessa creates just workplaces where all identities can contribute authentically and reach their full potential.
Janessa’s Work: hire4higher.org
Sonya Stattmann is a full-time Corporate Wellness Speaker and Stress Management Coach. She has spent the last 24 years educating teams on topics like Burnout & Stress Management, Mental Health & Wellness, and Building Resilience.
Beyond IWD…
Sonya is contributing to the conversation around the “gender mental health gap.” According to Sonya: “there is a huge gender gap in mental health. Women are far more likely to experience burnout, depression & anxiety than their male counterparts. All of my work is about improving mental health & reducing stress & burnout. The education I provide not only helps women, but allows men to have more empathy & compassion towards the pressure & stress women are having to navigate.”
Sonya’s Work: https://www.sonyastattmann.com/
Programming Champions
Julia Lechner
Julia Lechner is an award-winning storyteller and award-winning content marketer who currently serves as Nextdoor's Head of Editorial & Social Media.
Beyond IWD…
Julia participates in employee resource groups (ERGs), mentorship programs and leadership development initiatives, helping to foster environments where everyone can thrive, and contributing to a more equitable and representative workforce. According to Julia: “there is still an incredible amount of work to be done, especially in a time where we see many organizations cutting their DEIB programs.”
Julia’s Work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julialechner/
Dr. Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff is a globally-recognized sports diplomacy expert, speaker, and consultant working at the intersection of global sports, communications, and diplomacy. Specializing in Franco-United States relations through sports, she is author of Basketball Empire: France and the Making of a Global NBA and WNBA (Bloomsbury, 2023), “Views From the Embassy: The Role of the U.S. Diplomatic Community in France, 1914,” (U.S. Department of State, 2014), The Making of Les Bleus: Sport in France, 1958-2010 (Lexington Books, 2013), and her work on global sports has appeared with outlets like TIME, CNN International, The Athletic, The Washington Post, The New Yorker. Outside her consulting practice, she directs the FranceAndUS project and is an Adjunct Instructor at New York University’s Tisch Institute for Global Sport.
Beyond IWD…
Lindsay is taking her seat at the table. According to Lindsay: “You need to be in the room, and at the table, in order to advance and advocate any issue, and the same goes for women's issues. As more women enter the boardroom, as more women become team leaders and influencers, they are bringing issues of equality into the equation and pushing to move the needle forward for all--not just for women. We see this in the sports world where several female CEOs and executives have helped put women's sports, and women in sports, into mainstream conversation, big business, and more.”
Lindsay’s Work: https://s3.amazonaws.com/external_clips/4147684/SIGA-Sport-Integrity-Journal-FLS-March22.pdf?1649445651
Lauren, an expert community builder and marketer, graduated from Indiana University. With experience ranging from spearheading nationwide ambassador programs at Bumble to her role as Growth Manager at Frich, she's dedicated to empowering Gen Zers and women, always prioritizing mission-driven impact.
Beyond IWD…
Lauren is dedicated to empowering Gen Zers with financial education through her current role at Frich. While resources are accessible to everyone, Lauren’s focus stems from a realization that women, in particular, benefit significantly from the support and guidance that Frich and company provide.
Lauren’s Work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenvilips/
Advocacy-Focused Volunteers
Oriana J. Medlicott
Oriana currently works for Fujitsu Research leading on Trusted AI and innovation strategy, and start-up ecosystem management in the Technology Strategy Unit. Pervious to Fujitsu, Oriana worked as an AI Ethics consultant in New York and Europe. She co-founded and co-hosts 'Let's Chat Ethics' a woman led podcast all about AI and Ethics, which has had expert guests on from across academia, industry and governments. Additionally, she is a volunteer lead at Diverse AI - supporting the growth of diversity in AI, this is one of Oriana's passions ensuring people from diverse backgrounds are represented across tech.
Beyond IWD…
Oriana currently volunteers for an organization called Diverse AI which aims to help people from diverse backgrounds into AI through educational programs and research. This is something Oriana cares deeply about: ensuring that we have a diverse group of people working within AI.
Oriana’s Work: https://www.diverse-ai.org/
Sandhya Sabapathy is passionate about being a part of large & small movements that drive systemic change. Sandhya is a results-driven and analytical director with substantial experience in social impact, ESG, DEI, commercial venture development, and team leadership across multiple Fortune 500 companies in over 15+ markets. She leads the skills, regeneration & employment portfolio at Thames Freeport, a newly created special economic zone launched by the UK PM when he was Chancellor. Her portfolio drives the creation of 22,000 jobs, improves educational attainment across all skill-levels across the freeport area and rejuvenates the community by helping them build a global employability profile at home.
Beyond IWD…
Sandhya Sabapathy's commitment to fostering systemic change extends beyond her professional endeavors at Thames Freeport. As a board member of a leading UK charity for care leavers, Sandhya plays a pivotal role in advocating for and supporting individuals transitioning out of the care system, ensuring they have access to necessary resources and opportunities for personal and professional development.
Sandhya’s role as a skills commissioner for the Breaking Down Barriers Commission also underscores her dedication to dismantling systemic obstacles that hinder equitable access to education and employment, particularly for marginalized communities.
Sandhya’s Work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandhya-sabapathy/
Founders
Melissa Lohrer
I'm a Business Development Partner for independent creative agencies planning their path to $1m. After 13 years agency-side, I was burnt out and frustrated by a broken model I couldn’t fix. create sustainable and profitable growth strategies that put founders back in control of their business - working with the right clients, at the right time, at the right price. We are reinventing the traditional agency model with a modern approach to scaling that doesn't depend on burnout.
Beyond IWD…
Melissa is running her own business. According to Melissa: “Less than 1% of creative agencies are owned by women and less than 2% of women-owned businesses make it to seven figures. My business is designed to change those statistics, helping more women thrive as agency owners while running a $1m+ business and living a life on their terms.”
Melissa’s Work: http://waverlyave.com
Surayya Walters
Surayya Walters is a social entrepreneur from New Rochelle, NY. She is the founder of iDEIntity; a DEI innovation nonprofit, Innovanoire; a women's empowerment initiative for entrepreneurs of color ages 18 to 40; and Purposeful Professional Media; a media initiative highlighting intersectional career narratives.
Beyond IWD…
Surayya promotes and celebrates the contributions of women of color who are entrepreneurs ages 18 to 40 through Innovanoire. According to Surayya: “That population is often overlooked and not given support, and this new initiative is designed to uniquely champion their needs across the development of technical skills, business acumen, bootstrapping, and eventually; fundraising.”
Surayya’s Work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/surayya-walters/
This piece, as part of our Badassery Blog, includes profiles from real, current Badassery members who were selected to participate in this profile-boosting opportunity. We support our thought leaders in a myriad of ways, providing platforms to promote their work and champion others. For the full scoop on Badassery, check out our Membership Benefits or join the Waitlist.
