Forbes kicked off its Women’s History Month coverage with a feature story on Vital Voices’ 16th Annual Global Mentoring Walks, where 135 walks in 45 countries took place this past Saturday in a prelude to International Women’s Day.
“The Mentoring Walks resonate with me because, as a feminist, I believe you have to use your power, your voice, your wisdom to empower the next generation of women,” said fashion designer, philanthropist and Vital Voices Board Member Diane von Furstenberg to Forbes (who hosted the New York Mentoring Walk and panel discussion with Nobel Laureate and Human Rights Activist Nadia Murad, Vital Voices President & CEO Alyse Nelson, singer/songwriter MILCK and teen poetry prodigy Megumi Jindo; all highlighted in the photo gallery below).
The Global Mentoring Walks drew crowds of women by the thousands, some of whom walked in rain, sleet and snow, and others who walked amid crises—like war.
“‘Be brave like Ukrainians!’ said Olga Azarova of Ukraine, where there were 10 walks that took place this year. The Founder of the Vital Voices Ukraine chapter urges women to ‘change the world for the better – provide truth, security, justice and peace!'” wrote Forbes Contributor Jane Hansen, who also featured former Afghan government minister and Vital Voices network leader Muqaddesa Yourish and Vital Voices Board Member and Chief Commercial Officer at Rokt Elizabeth Buchanan. Buchanan ended up hiring a young woman whom she met at her last Global Mentoring Walks event in New York.
“I’m proud to host the New York City Walk and join women leaders hosting Walks in more than 130 other cities around the world—it’s so powerful,” said von Furstenberg. “Vital Voices is truly a global network of the most badass women in the world!”
Read the full story, “Women Have Found A Powerful Way To Form Authentic Connections In Business – Mentoring Walks” in Forbes.