Fei-Fei Li, Jane Goodall, Susie Wolff, and Ann
March is Women’s History Month and a time to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world. We spoke with a few of the amazing leaders we know about the women they admire.
Emi Yoshikawa
Adjunct Professor
Kyoto University
A woman I admire is Professor Fei-Fei Li of Stanford University, often dubbed the ‘godmother of AI’ for her groundbreaking work on ImageNet, which laid the foundation for modern AI innovation. Her journey from a young immigrant with limited means to a pioneering AI researcher embodies resilience, excellence and leadership, and she continues to push the boundaries of Human-Centered AI.
Diana Birkett Rakow
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Sustainability
Alaska Airlines
Jane Goodall has had a tremendous impact on how we think about our relationship with the natural environment, grounded in her love of science. Her work and life have been driven by research, education, curiosity and empathy to create a data-based understanding of the interdependency of living things. Her passionate but pragmatic leadership has inspired many to ask better questions, to more critically understand and steward our impact on the planet, and to invest in conservation. As someone who started my education in chemistry and deeply appreciates the outdoors, I’m especially grateful for her blending science and humanity to inspire a more sustainable path forward across the globe.
Jamie Asato
Chief Operating Officer
Accuity LLP
I admire Susie Wolff for her trailblazing career in motorsport and dedication to promoting female participation. Her leadership and resilience embody the values of breaking barriers, embracing diversity and driving innovation. I remember attending a conference where Susie spoke about overcoming challenges in a male-dominated field, and her words resonated deeply with me. Susie’s journey inspires us to excel in our fields.
Betty Hwang
Manager, Public Relations
Kaiser Permanente
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, there isn’t a woman I admire more than my own sister and best friend, Ann. Ever humble and logical, Ann would argue that I cannot possibly admire her because the term implies “looking up to,” and she’s my younger sister by seven years. However, I would remind her – and do often – that I want to be just like her when I grow up. Ann embodies all the qualities that I strive to achieve for personally — she’s kind, brave, strong, fun, intelligent, supportive and compassionate. She has a strong moral compass and is never afraid to be a voice for the voiceless or lend a helping hand even when the task is challenging. And because I believe we’re never done growing up, I will always admire Ann and hope one day to become just half the incredible woman she is.
