Eight French Women Who Inspire Us
There are so many French women who inspire us every day by the way they lead, make a positive impact in their community, do business or simply do life… We couldn’t list them all here, but will start with these ones.
First row: Lamya, Aïssa, Esther, Josephine — Second row: Mathilde, Shanty, Siham and Lauren
The Women Activists
Lamya Essemlali
Lamya Essemlali is a well-known French-Moroccan activist, writer, and filmmaker. She is best known for her work as the President of Sea Shepherd France, a non-profit organization that works to protect marine wildlife and habitats from destruction and exploitation. Her tireless efforts and commitment to the cause have helped raise awareness of the urgent need to protect our oceans and their inhabitants.
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was a French American artist and civil right activist, an amazing performer and a figure of empowerment for Black women. She became a spy for the French Resistance during WWII, and spoke before Martin Luther Kind at the 1963 March on Washington. She is the first Black woman and sixth woman to be inducted into the French Pantheon.
Aïssa Maïga
Aissa Maiga is a French actress, director and producer born in Senegal, who has been advocating for inclusion and calling out racial discrimination in the film industry. She is a leading figure in a new wave of activism by people of color in response to the lack of Black representations in French movies.
The Women Podcasters
Siham Jibril
Siham Jibril is the founder of podcast Generation XX in which she gives the mic to female entrepreneurs. I believe I listened to almost all of the 100 episodes. Her interviews have inspired me to become an entrepreneur myself, so I’m forever grateful for her starting this venture!
Lauren Bastide
Lauren Bastide is another podcaster — have you heard of La Poudre? — and a journalist, feminist, author and activist on intersectional feminism. Her purpose is to give women a voice, because according to her, “your voice is the thing that matters, the thing that can reach others, the thing that can change the world.”
The Women Entrepreneurs
Shanty Baehrel
Shanty Baehrel, aka the bis-queen, is the founder of Shanty Biscuit (made in Provence!). She created a successful personalized biscuit company with no specific business background but a whole lot of humor, humanity and the right dose of pop’ culture. She started her business in her kitchen, and is now partnering with some of the biggest organizations and brands including Chanel, LVMH, Pampers and Facebook. I love following her latest creations and funny puns, and her success reminds me that everything is possible when you set your mind to it.
Mathilde Lacombe
Multi-business entrepreneur, mother of three and wife, Mathilde Lacombe is someone I’ve been following for a few years as she was working on her newest venture: Aime Skincare, which makes supplements that promote a healthy and effortless glow, starting from within. She is actually going after the U.S. market, as of recently, so you may hear of her more!
She openly talks about work-life balance and being a working mom, which are topics I can relate to.
The Economist
Esther Duflo
Esther Duflo is a French–American economist, professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at MIT, and Nobel Prize winner. I remember studying her economical theories and work during my college years and it has had an influence on how I see the world today.
This is just a small sample of French women who are paving the way for others, or changing the world in their own terms. Who are the women who inspire you?