Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Mary Wollstonecraft
With the backdrop of the French Revolution, Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. She argued that women are human beings deserving of the same fundamental rights as men. The company name is about honoring trailblazers of the past and present. At Wollstonecraft Coaching, our mission is to support and empower leaders who aspire to challenge the status quo and push for a more inclusive world.
"I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves."
-Mary Wollstonecraft
Without alteration there can be no improvement
I was on the fence about graduate school, so I decided to take a graduate class at a college that had just begun admitting females into their undergraduate program. The course was Foundations in American Education, and we were assigned a research paper on influential educators in America. It was shocking to realize that the list of research-approved individuals, which was provided by the professor, did not contain any women. I immediately pointed out the error to my professor, but his response was dismissive. He tried to argue that no woman had ever made significant contributions to education. But I wasn't going to let this slide. I began lecturing the class on the trailblazing work of Emma Willard, refusing to back down.
After much persuasion, my professor finally agreed to let me write my research paper on Willard. As the class came to a close, I handed my professor a list of influential women who have contributed to the field of education. It was a small but important step to expand his knowledge and encourage inclusivity. Discovering the truth by building on previous discoveries, nanos gigantum humeris insidente, can open a door of wisdom and strength for everyone.
Women will be the mighty catalyst in solving our modern global challenges. Once again, we all need to rewrite or alter the story that society has given women. The new narrative will make space for every girl and woman to become the fullest expression of herself for in the words of Emma Willard: “Without alteration, there can be no improvement.”
Our Why: The Future Mosaic
Challenging the Status Quo
In 1911, Anna Howard Shaw proclaimed, "The old battle cries no longer stir our souls. Give us new banners for our times, let us have new leaders, and what we need most is undoubtedly a new battle cry to stir the dormant souls of American men and women." Boldly answering that call, the first national suffrage parade was carefully organized for March 3, 1913, coinciding with Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration. The message was unmistakable: women would no longer be ignored.
Women in 2025
August 18, 2020, marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Today, women working full time in the U.S. are paid 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. Black women earn about 66% of what non-Hispanic white men are paid. Out of 535 seats in Congress, women now hold 150, and in state legislatures, women hold about 33.2% of the elected seats. A recent analysis found that while women make up about 40% of all employees in major corporations, they account for only about 10% of CEOs as of 2025.
The Future Mosaic
“I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic,” suffragette Alice Paul reflected. “Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great mosaic at the end.” Imagine the future mosaic if every woman courageously stepped into her power. Leadership coaching offers a proven path to creating lasting change for both individuals and organizations. Through a collaborative process, clients gain clarity, take intentional action, and achieve the meaningful goals and results they aspire to.