Welcome back to our Female Change Maker blog series. At distillery, we create and share content that has a positive impact. So we wanted to share this series to inspire more positive change in the world and recognise the amazing women who’ve achieved this.
This time, Gracie and Becky are celebrating the female change makers that have had a positive impact on them and the world.
Gracie Ford
Project Manager
Chosen female change maker(s):
Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughan
What have they done to create change?
Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan were three university-educated African-American women recruited to NASA’s West Area Computers section at Langley laboratory in Virginia at a time when black female mathematicians were completely segregated from their white counterparts, and forced to use separate workspaces, canteens, and toilets.
By 1949, Dorothy Vaughan had become leader of the West Area Computing section and NASA’s first-ever black supervisor. Mary Jackson eventually became NASA’s first black, female aeronautical engineer. Moving into NASA's early Space Task Group, Katherine Johnson completed a trajectory analysis for the first human spaceflight in 1961 and became the first woman to receive a credit as the author of a report for NASA’s Flight Research Division.
Why do you admire them?
They were three women who had to fight against systemic racism and the glass ceiling. Their efforts paved the way for younger generations to fight for better work and more recognition.
Is there something they have done that has inspired you in your work? How have they affected your attitude/actions?
Their work has impacted our understanding of space and computing. I’m always inspired by their bravery in standing up for their right to work, becoming experts in their field, and tirelessly working to help hire and promote the next generation of women scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.
Becky Peterhansen
Global Group Account Director
Chosen female change maker(s):
Julissa Calderon
What has she done to create change?
She runs workshops empowering young women and created a business that focuses on the power of journaling to actualize change.
Why do you admire her?
There is very little representation of Latinas in the media and even less so when it comes to Afro-Latinas. Julissa is an extremely talented and vocal woman who shares the importance of recognizing the diverse backgrounds that make up not just the Hispanic community, but the United States at large.
Her dedication to paying it forward by hosting workshops that give entrepreneurial skills to young women shows her commitment to uplifting others in the community through her own success.
Why did it resonate with you?
It is easy to typecast a whole group of people or define “Hispanic” in a homogeneous way. I think people like Julissa bring a needed awareness to the beautiful diversity within our communities.
Is there something they have done that has inspired you in your work/how have they affected your attitude/actions?
Julissa shows how you can have a massive impact by sharing your skills and your time. She inspires me to try and provide mentorship opportunities and give back to young women in my community.
If you’d like to see how we can make content that has a positive impact for your brand, or you would just like to have a chat, get in touch.