Mathematics & Space
Katherine Johnson
Her mathematical work at NASA helped make human spaceflight possible and became an enduring example of precision, persistence and intellectual courage.
NASA biography →Women Who Inspire
There are many ways to build a remarkable life.
This collection is intentionally broad. The goal is not to create a ranking of “great women,” but to show how different curiosity, courage, craft, persistence and imagination can look in real lives.
Medicine, Engineering & Space
Mae Jemison
A physician and engineer who became the first Black woman to travel in space — and continued building bridges between science, education and creativity.
NASA biography →Dance
Misty Copeland
A ballet dancer whose career challenged long-standing assumptions about who could rise to the highest levels of classical dance.
Official site →Writing
Maya Angelou
A poet, memoirist and performer whose work turned personal experience into language that continues to reach generations of readers.
Poetry Foundation →Education & Advocacy
Malala Yousafzai
An advocate for girls’ education whose story demonstrates the extraordinary force of learning, conviction and persistence.
Malala Fund →Sport
Simone Biles
An athlete whose achievements changed gymnastics while her choices also broadened public understanding of wellbeing and longevity in elite sport.
Olympics profile →Technology & Education
Reshma Saujani
Founder of Girls Who Code, she turned concern about the gender gap in technology into a large-scale effort to help young people build technical confidence.
Girls Who Code →Science & Design
Temple Grandin
A scientist, author and designer whose distinctive way of thinking contributed to animal science, engineering and public understanding of different minds.
Official site →Why this page exists: Inspiration becomes more useful when it expands the range of lives you can imagine for yourself.