2019-09-01_Shape

not your

As the president and CEO of Vital

Voices Global Partnership, Alyse Nelson

uses her voice and power to empower

other women around the world.

SHAPE: You created Vital Voices more than 20 years ago. What was

your inspiration? What were you hoping to achieve?

Alyse Nelson: I had heard about a planned gathering of 55,000

women leaders in Beijing China—The United Nations Fourth World

Conference on Women. I instantly knew that I had to be there. [At the

conference,] I heard Hillary Clinton speak and I realized, wow, I have a

voice. I have power. I have to use that to empower other people. Imagine

all the rights, opportunities, and access men around the world have.

Now, imagine if women had those same rights. Women need to be at

the decision-making tables, part of governments, starting and growing

businesses, and part of societies–an equal part. That realization

became my driving force. Today at Vital Voices, we search the world

for women—human rights leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs, and

businesswomen—we invest in them and their visions for change.

S: It’s clear that you were incredibly inspired by Hillary Clinton, who

continues to play such an important role for women across the world

today. Can you tell us more about the other empowering females in your

life? Where do you look for inspiration?

AN: My mom. I grew up with an absolute badass of a mother. I knew

that, as a woman, she was held back from some of the things that she

wanted to do. Growing up, she told me to run after my dreams and

to know that I had that incredible support. It’s not about economic

support; it’s about the emotional support when someone believes in

you. I’m really inspired by her. And I’m so inspired by the women that

I work with. They do so much with so little, and they don’t give up.

S: In TRESemmé you found a partner who is also dedicated to

advancing women’s equal representation in leadership. Together,

you’ve created the Leadership Incubator—can you explain what that is,

and why you decided to partner with them?

PRESENTED BY

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photographs by ADRIENNE LONGO