“No country can move forward if half of its population – women and girls – is left behind,” said Alice Nelson, president and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership. “We can see that women are not just an economic force or another number that gains traction in society. Women are powerful leadership forces.
On Monday night in the West Village, Vital Forces, in partnership with Estée Lauder, brought together some of the most influential changemakers, founders, and leaders from around the world—Diane von Furstenberg, Karlie Kloss Karlie Kloss, Imaan Hammam, Indre Rockefeller, Denise Bidot, and many others have expressed support for the mission.
To date, Estée Lauder and Vital Voices have trained, connected, and supported 400 women leaders from 60 different countries and four generations through their VV Visionaries leadership program. Nelson made one thing clear—they were just getting started. Whether solving challenges like climate change, economic inequality, or gender-based violence, the women leaders recognized by the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund and Vital Voices are intrinsically motivated and won’t back down from issues that need to be addressed.
“I’m extremely proud to partner with Estée Lauder because they truly understand the power of women. Estée Lauder has built this empire that has always been about women,” Nelson said.
Estée Lauder brand ambassadors Karlie Kloss and Imaan Hammam chatted with guests and honorees in the flower-filled lounge. Kloss was greeted by some of her Code With Klossy interns, “Let me take a picture with my girls!” she yelled, hugging them with maternal pride.
“As an ambassador for the past six years, I’ve seen firsthand how the brand empowers women at every level,” Kloss said on stage while introducing the first recipients of the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Power of Beauty Grant. The awardees hail from Canada, Chile, Nigeria, and Brazil, each embracing the global impact of the partnership’s mission.
Amina Mohammed is the founder of Cameras for Girls, an organization dedicated to challenging gender inequalities in media and equipping African girls with cameras so they can have greater access and opportunities in media careers. Maria Consuelo Hermosilla Gonzalez, founder of the Antonia Foundation, created an organization dedicated to eliminating intimate partner violence in Chile by providing free care and support to survivors while raising awareness about the elimination of gender-based violence. Renata Koch Alvarenga is the founder of Empoderaclima, a youth-led organization that raises awareness about the impact of climate change on women and the role of gender-transformative climate education. Each woman came to the stage to express her gratitude and the crowd erupted in tears of pride and hopeful applause.
Olasumbo Adeleke, Executive Director of Gender Power Africa, who was not able to attend but honored remotely, is committed to improving rural communities through economic empowerment, training and capacity building, particularly for smallholder farmers and youth.
At the end of the night, Nelson left a lasting message. “Imagine the waves of good and change. I know Estée Lauder would be proud; of course we would. Mina Muhammad Madison Tiefling Sarah Sophie Flick Laura Ferrara Laura Ray Gensdorf Karlie Kloss Indre Rockefeller Renata Koch Alvarenga Consuelo Hermosilla Gonzalez
