Here’s to the brilliant women who continue to channel the compassion and tenacity of Eleanor Roosevelt in everything they do. Their stories are inspirational and their determination is awe inspiring. We could not be more proud of their accomplishments.
“GLW is honestly the reason I’m doing what I’m doing right now, it gave me the confidence and tools I needed to move to New York City and pursue my dreams.”
I am currently a Junior at NYU studying social and cultural analysis with a concentration in gender and public policy and minoring in politics. I have been lucky enough to intern this past semester with Secretary Hillary Clinton and work for the small staff she now has since the election. I am currently interning with Lady Parts Justice League, a boots-on-the-ground reproductive rights advocacy group. “GLW is honestly the reason I’m doing what I’m doing right now, it gave me the confidence and tools I needed to move to New York City and pursue my dreams.
Brittany Lo, GLW 2007
“Beauty is so much more than a pretty face. It’s about embracing confidence and loving the person you are.”
As the Founder and CEO of Beautini, Brittany Lo has always seen the power that beauty has to empower women from the inside out. Prior to starting Beautini, Brittany had a career in marketing working for brands including L’OREAL USA, Redken 5th Ave, and Sony Music Entertainment. With her B.S. degree from Babson College, Brittany fused her business and beauty expertise to develop the unique concept of making makeovers fun. Today, Beautini does just that by providing women with beauty services and bubbly so they can sip and enjoy themselves, making for the ultimate beauty experience. Beautini has since received numerous awards including The Knot 2017 Best of Weddings Vendor, Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Award, and the 2016 Weddi Award for “Most Effective Branding.
Brittany currently operates Beautini’s Headquarters out of Manhattan and is a beauty contributor for The Knot. When Brittany is not with her Beautini stylists, she can be found teaching brand marketing workshops, speaking at different universities, and at Sephora discovering the latest beauty products.
Samantha Thomas, GLW 2009
“GLW taught me about the vast diversity and unique power young women hold. Through my experience, I learned the importance and need for storytelling, honesty, respect, and community.”
After GLW, I took a gap year to serve as an AmeriCorps Member for the educational non-profit City Year. I provided near peer mentoring and academic support for middle school classroom. I’m currently enrolled at the University of Milwaukee Wisconsin studying Community Organizations: Policy and Leadership with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. While pursuing my degree, I’m also working for the Boys and Girls Club as group leader in an after school program.
Alyssa Barefield, GLW 2013
“I met some of the most incredible women through this program who pushed me those 9 days to never settle for complacency.”
Alyssa Barefield is a 2013 alumna of GLW and is currently a sophomore at the University of Alabama majoring in Psychology on the pre medical track with a minor in social innovation and leadership. She is a part of a leadership and service organization within UA’s Honors College known as the University Fellows Experience and is a new student of the Blackburn Institute. She also participates as a research assistant in a psychology lab on campus and helps with a pediatric research project at UAB. Other campus activities include being an Honors College Ambassador, an active member of her sorority, and volunteering in the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham communities. She hopes to attend medical school upon graduation and pursue a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. “GLW really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I met some of the most incredible women through this program who pushed me those 9 days to never settle for complacency. I really learned the importance of using my voice and how I can be a change agent in my community. There isn’t a single girl in my session who isn’t doing amazing things in her community and I’m so thankful that I can call them friends.”
Francesca Green, GLW 2009
Francesca is interning for the New York State Planned Parenthood advocacy branch/lobbying headquarters in the Albany capitol. Starting in August she will be attending Columbia University studying international social welfare and policy in the MSW program! GLW and Eleanor inspired her to realize that “what you don’t do can be a destructive force”; if you want something done, it’s up to you to get out there and do it!
Sierra Pizzola, GLW 2010
“I’ve had the opportunity to meet up with so many GLW friends from around the world, all who inspire me everyday to keep living life in the moment and standing up for what I believe in”
After GLW in 2010 Sierra was awarded her Girl Scout Gold award by raising $30,000 for a new softball field at her high school. She went on to study Communications at Syracuse University. At Syracuse, Sierra was busy being on the executive board of her student run advertising agency. She studied abroad in Florence and Greece. Sierra attributes her networking skills and more to GLW.
Xonatia Lee, GLW 2012
“Girls’ Leadership Worldwide taught me to turn my ideas and passions into something more tangible. It emphasized using my leadership skills to empower others.”
She is an alumna of Girls’ Leadership Worldwide who is currently a student at Barnard College of Columbia University. After GLW she created a club at her high school called “Girl Up”. Last summer she entered at Microsoft developing iOS apps and more. She will be working with them again this summer focusing on getting more women involved in STEM. “Girls’ Leadership Worldwide taught me to turn my ideas and passions into something more tangible. It emphasized using my leadership skills to empower others.”
Katherine Fleming, GLW 2013
Katherine is now a sophomore at Princeton University majoring in History with certificates (minors) in Gender & Sexuality Studies, American Studies, and Humanistic Studies. She is the co-president of Princeton Students for Gender Equality (PSGE) as well as a member of Princeton Students for Reproductive Justice. Her work with PSGE is informed by her summer at GLW and by the time she spent volunteering at Rosie’s Place, a shelter and food pantry for women and their children in Boston. Right after her summer at GLW, she was inspired to start a Feminist Alliance at her high school. Now, she uses the lessons she learned at GLW and from Eleanor Roosevelt to inform her role as a leader of a student group with a mission of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and feminist community-building.
Sarah Rodriguez, GLW 2015
“GLW was truly a watershed experience in my life. It fed my passion for justice and equality, empowering me as a student, citizen, and agent for world-change!”
Sarah is a senior at Rhinebeck High School, graduating this July as valedictorian, and attending Harvard University in the fall. She served as class president, Spanish Club president, Band President, Model UN fundraising chair, National Honor Society member, and peer mentor. She volunteers weekly at an English as a Second Language Program, where she assists local hispanic immigrants in learning English and adapting to American systems, as well as spearheads service and cultural projects. She was selected to attend the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Bogota, Colombia this past February, where she served as a youth delegate.
Meet Delphi Cleaveland, GLW 2010
Delphi is a recent Cornell University grad who majored in German area studies, feminist, gender & sexuality studies, and law &: Society. Hear her story:
“The empowerment derived from my experience at Girls’ Leadership Worldwide, the fearless tenacity and strength of young women working together, they’re qualities I know will stick with me for the rest of my life.”
Please contact us if you would like to be put in contact with a GLW alumna. Members of our expansive alumnae network are always happy to answer questions and usher in the next class!
To the wonderful women of GLW’s past: We invite you to share your stories, your favorite memories, and the hottest headlines of your life today! Where have your adventures taken you? What fresh wonders have you come across and pursued? What sets your soul on fire these days? Let this be YOUR platform for expression, a place to showcase your accomplishments and share in the empowerment of female-driven leadership. Feel free to attach links to your blog, photos of your favorite things, or screenshots of the wonderful woman you are today! All stories gathered will be compiled and shared on our website and social media in celebration and encouragement of EMPOWERING GIRLS EVERYWHERE!
