In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8th March, The International Women’s Day official theme this year – ‘Break the Bias’ – looks to honour women who are smashing down stereotypes and highlighting those who continue to push boundaries, not just for themselves but for all women.
Here we have collated a list of ten inspiring women across the globe who have broken the bias by excelling in roles and fields that men traditionally lead the charge in.
These bright stars and fearless trailblazers are paving the way for future generations, helping inspire other women and shine a light on what can be achieved in their industries.
From a spear-fishing world record holder in Bermuda and a feng-shui mistress in Hong Kong to a leading neuro-toxicologist in Puerto Rico, here’s our pick of women who are breaking the bias in 2022.
Puerto Rico’s Dr Alexandra Colón-Rodríguez, leading investigations into the human brain and nervous system
Dr Alexandra Colón-Rodríguez, a leading neuro-toxicologist in Puerto Rico, is currently leading investigations into the true effects of mercury poisoning on the human brain and nervous system. She has also done significant work to help promote the involvement of Puerto Rican women in STEM. Alexandra founded the STEAM100x35 initiative (named for the 100 mile by 35 mile dimensions of Puerto Rico), which showcases women from the island working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths around the world. Through this, Dr Alexandra Colón-Rodríguez is helping to innovate and represent women in a field where they make up a low percentage of the workforce, helping to give women more equal opportunities to pursue and thrive in. www.discoverpuertorico.com
Leitah Mkhabela, ranger with the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, South Africa
At 28 years of age, Leitah Mkhabela has an immense amount of responsibility. From sweeping life threatening wildlife snares from wilderness areas to tracking down poachers in the bush, Leitah and her fellow rangers are working hard to create a danger-free zone for wild animals, enabling them to live freely and sustaining wildlife populations. Leitah and the Black Mambas need as much support as possible so that they can continue their crucial work. Leitah is working to ensure the future of South Africa’s wildlife while breaking pre-existing barriers and biases that exist. www.southafrica.net
Taylor Barit, Bermuda’s free-diving spearfishing world record holder
An ocean and nature lover, 33-year-old Bermudan, Taylor Barit was fascinated by her male friends who hunted fish using spears and knives in Bermuda’s crystal-clear waters. Determined that this was something she could achieve, within a week Taylor had her fishing licence and 10 foot spear ready to go hunting. Several years later she is now a four-time world record breaker with a 17.4lb hogfish, a 12.3lb grey snapper, a 55.8lb black grouper and an even heavier black grouper weighing an incredible 66.1lb and as only one of a handful of women who spearfish in Bermuda, Taylor is pioneering the trend, paving the way for women across the world to take up the occupation. Whilst she loves breaking records, Taylor’s unusual hobby stems from her passion for the environment and she spends her free time hunting Bermuda’s Lionfish, an invasive species that harms the island’s precious reefs and native fish, to minimise the negative impacts on the ecosystem. www.gotobermuda.co.uk
Ontario’s Tori Baird, founder of Paddle Like A Girl
Tori Baird, an avid canoeist based in the Canadian province of Ontario, is transforming the narrative on how women are perceived when taking to the water to canoe. Tori founded Paddle Like A Girl, offering half day and three-day long women’s canoeing workshops throughout the province’s stunning waterways, with her favourite location being the Temagami region – the homeland of the area’s First Nations community. During these trips, Tori works with guests to develop their technique and build the skills required to plan and execute a backcountry canoe trip. Through championing the wonders of canoeing, Tori strives to guide women of all shapes, ages, and backgrounds, instilling confidence in them to go out and explore whilst discovering the peace and tranquillity that mother nature has to offer. www.destinationontario.com
Wightlink’s Chief Officer (Captain) Patrycja Jaromirska is smashing stereotypes at sea
Patrycja Jaromirska smashes the stereotypes in a male dominated industry as a female Captain on Wightlink’s Portsmouth-Fishbourne route. She has been a key crew member of the Victoria of Wight, England’s first hybrid energy ferry and continuously contributes to the crew’s initiatives which have established the company as the leading eco-friendly cross-Solent ferry company. Patrycja takes every opportunity to encourage other young women to take up a role at sea through her engagement with the International Maritime Organisation, unions, and social media. It always puts a smile on her face to see women in the docks as engineers. She loves the technical elements of the job, particularly learning about the different compartments of the ship which enable it to travel safely between the mainland and Island. Patrycja has long held an affinity with the water, growing up around shipyards, lakes, and rivers, and can’t imagine herself in any other career. www.wightlink.co.uk
Nashville’s Dolly Parton, Music City’s high priestess releases her debut novel in 2022
Music City is proudy home to one of the world’s best-loved artists, singers and songwriters, Dolly Parton, the Queen of country music. For over 50 years, the Tennessee-born superstar has been instrumental in bringing the Nashville country music scene to the world and has sold over 100 million records worldwide. A true icon and savvy business woman who celebrates her 76th birthday this year, Dolly continues to work nine to five as a singer, songwriter, actress, humanitarian and now soon-to-be author with the release of her debut novel, Run, Rose, Run coming up in March 2022. Her influence spanning far beyond the music, Dolly’s influence on Nashville continued to make itself evident with the opening of White Limozeen in 2020, a quirky and larger-than-life bar at the top of the Graduate Hotel in Nashville, named in honour of her 1989 hit song and album, and the Nashville studio where she recorded some of her earliest hits, RCA Studio B is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. www.visitmusiccity.com
Claudine Uwihirwe, leading the way in black rhino conservation in Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Claudine is the ranger and geographic information systems manager at Akagera National Park in Rwanda. She has been instrumental in the repopulation of critically endangered eastern black rhinos to Rwanda, whose numbers had reduced 10 years before due to poaching. Claudine’s work and dedication have helped to ensure that not one rhino has been poached since their arrival in 2017 and the population continues to thrive at Akagera. The varied terrain of Akagera compireses savannah, woodland, and a dozen lakes, making this breath-taking landscape the perfect shelter for other wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions, and hundreds of bird species. www.visitrwanda.com
Thierry Chow, Hong Kong’s feng shui master
Thierry Chow – Female feng shui master bringing an ancient art form to contemporary life: Hong Kong is known as the feng shui city. The ancient practice – involving positioning objects to achieve greater harmony and wellbeing – still shapes the modern metropolis. There are many masters in the city today, but one really stands out from the crowd. Thierry Chow is breaking the traditional mould in a male-dominated industry with her unique take on feng shui, in which she fuses art, fashion and interior design. Chow, whose father is one of Hong Kong’s most renowned masters, has collaborated with major brands like Kenzo, Lane Crawford and Soho House as a feng shui expert at various events, designed a range of hampers for Fortnum and Mason and launched her own line of interiors, GoLucky. www.discoverhongkong.com
Deem Al-Bassam, changing the way that Saudis eat out and spend their leisure time
Al-Bassam is the managing director at Independent Food Company, reinventing food and female leadership in Saudi Arabia. Set to open three restaurants in Bujairi Terrace, within the new development of Diriyah: GRIND coffee shop, a dessert-focused restaurant called SUGAR and a much-loved upmarket restaurant serving authentic Middle Eastern cuisine called Somewhere, Al-Bassam demonstrates a shining example of contemporary Saudi living in line with the Kingdom’s Vision for 2030. Deem’s enthusiasm for developing food brands has seen her launch Switch in The Dubai Mall, one of the first home-grown concepts to compete with international brands there, in addition to her signature brand Salt which operates food trucks across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. www.dgda.gov.sa
Lilli Hollein, new female director of the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna
Vienna is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, and a world-renowned vibrant hub of arts, culture and innovation. Always ahead of the trend, this Austrian capital is providing a breath of fresh air to the arts world by appointing a number of female directors to manage its key cultural institutions. A trailblazer in this new era for Vienna, Lilli Hollein is the design expert and curator recently appointed as General Director of the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK). Hollein brings a fresh perspective to this role, intending to broaden the museum’s audience and firmly strengthen its feministic point of view. From co-founding Design Week in 2007 and curating exhibitions on Memphis Design, to her contributions in Europe, she has already made an indelible mark on Vienna’s iconic arts and culture scene and is set to continue in 2022 and beyond. www.wien.info
