The Female Lead

This week we spoke to the amazing team at The Female Lead about their amazing mission and how they are having a very direct and positive impact on the next generation of strong and fearless women.

Being a woman doesn’t impose on our abilities to be what we want to be. Girls can be scientists, mathematicians, dancers, footballers, politicians, painters, actors, directors or entrepreneurs. At The Female Lead, we’ve seen plentiful evidence that, with the right encouragement and confidence, we can have whichever career we choose.

The mission at The Female Lead is simple, but powerful: we want to shine a spotlight on the women who shape our world. We want to make them visible, to share their stories in detail. This is important for both girls and boys: having access to positive female role models is crucial to build girls' confidence, but it also helps young men to appreciate women's achievements and to find new role models of their own.

Female role models don’t always make their way into the classroom, yet, they fulfil an essential function in inspiring young people. Edwina Dunn, founder of The Female Lead, believes it is high time a light was shined on the success stories of talented, independent women and shared with young girls and boys across the globe. To that end, thousands of copies of The Female Lead book are being donated to schools to inspire children everywhere to realise their hopes and ambitions.

In 'The Female Lead: Women Who Shape our World', you will find interviews with sixty inspirational women, from many walks of life. All have changed the world in a variety of fields. Among them are politicians and artists, journalists and teachers, engineers and campaigners, fire fighters and film stars. Some have led their professions; some have broken new ground for women; some have inspired change through relentless endeavour. All were chosen for their ambitions and achievements, and all tell their stories in their own words.

By presenting women from all backgrounds and careers, The Female Lead shows girls all the ways in which they can find success and fulfilment. Young girls need more role models, because you can’t be what you can’t see.

“It may seem selfish, but as women, we need to lead by example, as the women have in The Female Lead, and show young girls and women that the only version of yourself you can be is the true version. Be yourself. Because if you don’t, who will?"

Edwina Dunn, Founder of The Female Lead.

18,000 copies of The Female Lead book and resources will be sent to schools across the UK and US. If you would like to receive a free copy of The Female Lead book along with its teaching resources for your school, click here.