Here are four women leaders in science, entertainment and public policy who made the headlines last week.
Viola Davis, actress: Davis made history last week when she became the first African American woman to win an Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series for her role in “How To Get Away With Murder.” During her acceptance speech, Davis addressed the lack of diversity on television: “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”
Anne-Marie Slaughter, president of New America: Slaughter turned heads in 2012 with her essay “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All.” And in a recent piece for the New York Times, the Princeton professor puts the onus on the US government and corporate America to create an infrastructure that enables workers to be caregivers for family members and friends.
Taylor Swift, entertainer: Swift added another accolade to her belt when she captured the sixth spot on Fortune’s list of “40 Under 40” for 2015. Fortune applauded Swift for holding her own against Spotify and Apple and advocating for musical artists’ rights.
Olivia Hallisey, science student: 17-year-old Hallisey was crowned the winner of the 2015 Google Science Fair last week. Hallisey designed a low cost, portable test for Ebola, which provides results in less than 30 minutes and allows for rapid detection even when patients lack any symptoms.
Laura Dunn specializes in content creation, social media and bespoke PR, and works with brands, organizations and individuals in both the USA and the UK. Laura started blogging in 2008, when she created her blog Political Style. Laura writes for The Huffington Post, Fortune and many other publications. You can follow her on Twitter here: @lauraemilyd.
Laura Dunn