National Women’s History Museum Honors Changemakers and Advocates at 2025 Women Making History Awards Gala

On Thursday, March 20, The National Women’s History Museum hosted its annual Women Making History Awards Gala at the popular Wharf concert hall, The Anthem, in Washington, DC. In front of an elegant pink drapery backdrop and numerous high-profile guests, the museum recognized four honorees this year: Dr. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”, Pathways.org founder and healthcare advocate Shirley Ryan, noted inventor and philanthropist Sara Blakely, and Mattel, Inc., the inaugural recipient of the Evelyn Y. Davis Women Making History Corporate Changemaker Award.

Legendary actress Meryl Streep opened the show with a video congratulating the award recipients and spoke about the importance of honoring women’s stories. Norah O’Donnell, the night’s emcee and famed CBS News correspondent, followed with a dynamic introduction to the evening’s program. A common theme among speakers and program participants throughout the night was one of not only women’s empowerment but also the significance of increasing the visibility of women’s achievements and their critical role in shaping history and our daily lives.

As Susan D. Whiting, Chair of the National Women’s History Museum Board of Directors put it, “When you tell a story that excludes half of the population, the story is incomplete.” This was emphasized by the museum’s She is Not a Footnote And Neither Are You campaign which took center stage in a promotional video that set the tone for the event’s presenters and their stories.

The first honoree of the night, Dr. Opal Lee, was introduced by National Women’s History Museum Board Member Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall and Dr. Lee’s granddaughter Dione Sims, who not only reminded the audience of Dr. Lee’s role in advocating for a Juneteeth national holiday, but also her dedication to the Opal’s Walk Campaign that she continues to lead each year. When we had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Lee prior to the event about the inspiration behind her accomplishments, she stated, “I want women to know that they could accomplish as much as men if they tried, if they just had the tenacity. So like I keep saying, I’m going to keep on walking and talking and somebody’s going to listen.”

Shirley Ryan, introduced by Dr. Richard L. Lieber, Chief Scientific Officer at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, shared yet another story of tirelessly advocating for change–this time for children’s healthcare. Ryan delivered an emotional and moving acceptance speech describing how her desire to help her son, who overcame motor difficulties and ultimately graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, drove her to help other parents care for their children’s medical needs. “After my tears, I said, ‘Ok–what are you going to do about this?’” Ryan told the crowd during her speech, as she described how she founded the Pathways.org app, which now reaches 150,000 users globally. 

In a thoughtful and eye-opening introduction for Sara Blakely, National Women’s History Museum President and CEO Frédérique Campagne Irwin gave additional insight into the importance of ensuring that the influence and impact of women in society is elevated and celebrated. “When children are not taught about women’s achievements, they grow up believing that women’s roles are secondary. And guess what? That thought–it does not stay confined to the classroom. It follows them into their careers, into boardrooms, into elections, into science labs, and it shapes the way they view their place in this world,” Frédérique said before describing how Blakely’s work ethic and values led her to become a wildly successful entrepreneur. 

Blakely’s journey as the founder of Spanx and Sneex not only inspired the next generation of entrepreneurs but led her to become the first self-made billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge, where she committed to giving at least half of her wealth to charity and demonstrated her dedication to uplifting and supporting women. We asked Blakely about the advice that she would give to future female entrepreneurs today prior to going on stage. She told us, “Figure out what differentiates you and really celebrate that. If you’re going to create a business you usually do that by inventing something that didn’t already exist or making something that does so much better. Stay true to that, stay true to your calling and your why, and lead with the why and the purpose.”

The final honoree of the evening, Mattel, was presented with the museum’s inaugural Evelyn Y. Davis Women Making History Corporate Changemaker Award. LisaMcKnightt, Mattel’s Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, accepted the award on behalf of the company and brought awareness to the work the company is doing to bridge the gap between girls and their full potential. McKnight described the Barbie Dream Gap Project as “a global, multi-year mission dedicated to challenging gender stereotypes.” She went on to explain, “You’ve heard a little bit about this tonight, but research shows the challenges don’t lie in girls lacking self confidence or drive. The gaps often occur in the world around them. The Barbie Dream Gap Project helps undo the biases that hold girls back from reaching their full potential.”

The motivational night centered around impact and positive change was bookended by electrifying performers Hannah Cruz, who sang “Keep Marching” from the Tony Award-winning musical Suffs, and duo Sara Niemietz and Norelle Simpson, who premiered the museum’s official song, “We are Here,” composed by Grammy Award-winning artist Tena Clark.

Also in attendance were a number of special guests including Bellamy Young, Laura Coates, Sandra Lee, Edwina Findley, Karen Akunowicz, Rina Shah, and more.