Five Things I Learned During Women’s History Month . . . And Five I Already Knew
What an incredible March 2024 for Northeastern’s Women Who Empower community as we celebrated Women’s History Month around the globe! Thank you to everyone who participated in our events, sent messages of support, made a meaningful connection with someone, or simply posted, liked, or shared an experience. It all matters. Together, our small acts have big impact.
The past few weeks were especially energizing for me. As always, I am in awe of our students and alumnae, inspired by the accomplishments of our faculty and staff, and grateful for the involvement of our parents. I’ve been at Northeastern a long time, so it’s tempting for me to think I know a lot about the university. But any time I get a chance to spend time with you, I realize there’s so much more to know.
Five Things I Learned in March:
1. The drive, ambition, and achievements of Saudi sisters Kariman (AMD’17, M.Arch’18) and Nabila (AMD’16) Abuljadayel make Leonardo da Vinci look like an underachiever. Even Leonardo might have rested on his laurels had he been the first female to represent his country (in the Women’s 100 Meters in 2016). But architect Kariman is at it again, this time as a rower, aiming for Paris. Nabil is herself a multi-hyphenate – artist, photographer, filmmaker, goodwill ambassador. Humanics indeed. Trailblazers for sure.
2. Kat Tse (CAMD’24) is on the go! Kat came to our London Women Who Empower program on March 4th bearing the first issue of her gorgeous magazine Terms & Conditions. We were able to get copies into the hands of our speakers Julietta Dexter (PNT’20) and Jane Hartley, US Ambassador to the UK. Needless to say, they were blown away, not just by the style and quality of the issue, but by the story behind it. Kat next showed up in Boston, where she handled the Instagram takeover for our Elise Hu event (and shared T&C issues one and two with journalist Hu). Two days later, I was with Kat again at a Northeastern dinner with DryBar founder, Alli Webb. Kat’s graduating in just a few weeks and there’s no doubt we’ll continue to see a lot of her and T&C in the years to come.
3. Sexual health and wellness are important aspects of women’s pre- and post-natal needs. Sharon Wong (PNT’26), founder and CEO of motherswork, one of Asia’s leading retailers of mother, baby, and kid products, believes firmly that we can start normalizing these issues by simply talking about them. If it seems bold or risky that Sharon’s company might be the first mother and baby retailer in the world to sell sex toys, you haven’t met this vibrant, approachable entrepreneur. Her talk was a highlight of our Singapore Global Leadership Summit. Check out her book “Wo(mum): Living my Life as a Warrior, Woman and Mum.”
4. You’re never too young to be a co-author. “Inspire to Include” is a collaboration between Christie Chung, executive director of the Mills Institute, and her 8-year-old daughter, Olivia Ono. Their book combines stories and calls to action for kindness, inclusion, and gratitude with memory games in each chapter. For me, getting to know Christie on a more personal level was one of the best things that resulted from our first-ever Women Who Empower x Mills Institute event. We have more in common than I realized and I’m so excited to deepen and amplify our work together.
5. It’s great to plan, but sometimes the most sustainable reach of a community like Women Who Empower happens when the growth is organic. While each one of Northeastern’s 13 global campuses held an official “Women’s History Month” event (and some had more than one), there were many, many more activities, gatherings, and discussions that took place – and are continuing. As one campus leader told me, “I would love for us to do this more often. It’s much appreciated and very well received.”
. . . And Five I Already Knew:
1. Our young alumnae are awe-inspiring not simply because of their accomplishments (which are myriad), but also because they take on new challenges and embrace new opportunities with optimism and enthusiasm. Watching Binja Basimike (BHS’12, MPH’14), Daisy Kendrick (SSH’16), Haley Waud (BHS’12, DPT’13), Jude Albukhari (S’15), and Andrea Dorta (E’20, ME’20) take the GLS stage to introduce or interview big-name CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other leaders – with poise, with preparation and with confidence…well, it just makes my heart swell. Any one of them could have their own talk show or podcast. Maybe I should start an agency!
2. At just five years in, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that WISE continues to be one of the most impactful student organizations at Northeastern. Close to 800 students get involved every year, with 40 leadership roles each semester! More than 100 ventures launched. This organization is so powerful that some of the world’s top academic institutions (ranging from University of Tokyo to Paris-Saclay) have asked us to help them create something similar. Thank you, Eliana Berger (DMSB’22) and Mia Ngyuen (DMSB’21). It was so fun to have you back on campus for WISE@5. And thanks also to Betsy Ludwig, Ashley Olafsen, and Grace Levitt, whose behind-the-scenes work keeps this group going year after year.
3. I have the best team on the planet. I know it. You know it. I just have to say it.
4. This community shows up. And as long as you keep telling us that the Women Who Empower initiative is meaningful to you, we’ll keep doing it and working hard to improve with every single event, outreach, and interaction.
5. This community keeps me going. With more than 30 years in higher education administration, more than half of them here at Northeastern, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of smart, generous, dedicated people – young and old. But Women Who Empower is still one of the most rewarding, fulfilling, fun parts of my job. If I have never had a chance to thank you personally, please know that if you are reading this, I mean this thank you for you.
Next up: The Women Who Empower Innovator Awards. If you haven’t thought about applying – do it! This is a process and community that is entirely supportive and makes every endeavor better. Is it a cliché to say there are no losers? Perhaps. But it’s completely apt. I wish our funding could support every single one of you. We’re going to be working on that this Giving Day and I hope you will join me in supporting our vibrant community by participating in our Women Who Empower Challenge on April 11. In the meantime, the mentorship, friendships, and connections that are made through this network continue to be invaluable.
If you’re in Boston, I also encourage you to join us for a special Women Who Empower event on Wednesday, April 17, featuring Rima Abdul Malak, Former Minister of Culture for France.
With gratitude for all of you and until next time,
Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray
Senior Vice President for University Advancement
Northeastern University