“Touch down confirmed.”

Enormous applause erupted at mission control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, making Dr. Swati Mohan the face of the mission to the world on Earth.

Welcome to the 21st century, where women break the glass ceilings with their trailblazing careers, encouraging the young women in the world to push forth.

The walls that restrained many women no longer exist as they have realized the strength of their voice, opinions, and ideas. They are smashing the patriarchy.

Let’s go back to the genesis; in 1840, when two determined women met for the first time at a conference in London, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton found the spark that inspired them to guarantee rights for women. Through the suffrage movement’s continuous efforts, it was in 1919 when women had voting rights.

Since then, we have come a long way; 2021 witnessed the USA’s first Black Asian American female vice president.

“That’s why breaking those barriers is worth it. As much as anything else, it is also to create that path for those who will come after us.” — Kamala Harris.

The most defining moment of the 2020 Presidential debate was she didn’t allow Mike Pence to interrupt her. “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking”; she was speaking for every woman who’s ever been ripped off voicing their opinions or dismissed in a conference room full of men. Halfway across the globe, Jacinda Ardern secured a second term as prime minister in the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand after defeating National’s Judith Collins in October 2020.

The era of women is amidst us.

The global pandemic made us apprehend that we have lived in a polarized society for so long; it’s time we as human beings evolve our ability to see one another’s perspective and treat everyone as equal, irrespective of gender, race. With the recent BLM Movement in the USA, silicon valley companies have become aware of the existing bias towards women of color and have focused on reducing the gap. However, it will be a long journey.

With international women’s day around the corner, and as a tech woman, how can we not talk about the recent youngest woman billionaire and my inspiration: Bumble CEO and co-founder Whitney Wolfe Herd.

Source: https://twitter.com/WhitWolfeHerd/status/1359873589793726466

Her success, nine digits in three years, is a stunning comeback to all those who tried to stagnate her ambitions. From leaving tinder to suing her former boss, starting her own company, her journey is an incitement to all the tech women striving to find a seat at the table.

“I just don’t harbor resentment toward anything or anywhere or anyone — I’m too busy,” Herd says.

What makes Bumble distinct from the rest is the pivotal role given to women on the platform, as they can only make the first outreach in the app. With competition trying to buy out Bumble, her team categorically rejected the offer, and now they recently went public. Spectacular isn’t it! This is what leadership under a woman looks like.

My team at work comprises women from diverse backgrounds who diligently handle the critical infrastructure and applications, and working with them encourages me to put forward my ideas. Be it managing the household or taking care of children, or commanding their careers, women do it all.

Superwomen, aren’t we?

So, this International Women’s day, how do you plan to acknowledge the superwomen in your life?