The month of March is dedicated to remembering the visionaries, risk takers, and trailblazers who have fought for equality and paved the way for women in the world today. Because of women like social activist Bella Abzug, first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company Katharine Meyer Graham, and philanthropist and first Black woman millionaire in America Madam C.J. Walker, our very own Kendra Scott has dedicated the last 20 years to building a business with impact and heart.

A pioneer not only in fashion, she has used her company as a tool to create good in business, philanthropy, research, and education for women and youth. As a member of our community, we thank you for being a part of this movement.

Join us as we toast to Women’s History Month and amplify the voices of modern-day women who are breaking the bias and empowering others. Stay tuned for all that’s to come, and cheers to you!

Meet Julia Sora,

the 16-year-old founder of natural, antioxidant-rich lip balm brand Zeal Cares. Started after learning about the dry skin a family friend was facing during cancer therapy, for every lip balm purchased, another is gifted to a child or young adult with cancer.

How are you helping break the bias?

To break the bias, I try to be a consistent role model for young women who have similar dreams and aspirations as I do. I think it’s important to show girls that it is possible to make a meaningful difference, no matter how small their idea may seem. I first started my company hand drawing my labels and selling my lip balms in school parking lots, and now my lip balms can be found in stores and online. I am also partnering with over 30 hospitals and organizations across the country. In addition to raising awareness about pediatric cancer research, I also try to be the best role model for girls by speaking up, asking questions, taking risks, and dreaming big. I believe that one of the first steps to breaking gender bias is to encourage young girls to voice their opinions and chase their dreams without hesitation.

Meet Rashu Jain,

the President of the Student Advisory Board at The Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. Together with fellow UT student, Niti Malwade, she started Stories of Austin, a storytelling platform on Instagram and Facebook that shares the journeys of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Austin, Texas.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

A guest speaker who came to speak in one of my courses asked my class, “Who is someone who has inspired you and made an impact?” Every honorable name that was mentioned by my classmates were all men – Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and so on. I thought, “What about Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Malala Yousafzai? Serena Williams? Maya Angelou? Marie Curie?” However, I was too shy to say these names out loud. That’s why Women’s History Month is so important to me. Not only should young girls have powerful, influential female idols to look up to, but they should have the confidence instilled in them to be courageous and stand up for what they believe in. We should be celebrating these female-identifying powerhouses every day, but this month gives us a reason to celebrate their achievements.

Meet Destiny Fernandisse,

the first ever Miss League City USA. She’s hosting a Kendra Gives Back event with us benefiting Houston Angels, whose mission it is to walk alongside foster children and their caretakers by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building, and mentorship.

How are you helping break the bias?

I work in a male-dominated industry, and, at my company, I am one of the two female managers. One way I strive to break the bias is to speak up and encourage other women to do the same. We are here, we have something to say, and we CAN say it.

Meet Emily Pauley,

the Communications & Development Director for The Women’s Resource, which helps women and girls make choices toward becoming independent, productive, and financially stable. Our Heights Mercantile store is partnering with The Women’s Resource for a Kendra Gives Back event in honor of International Women’s Day.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Historically, women have overcome so many barriers and hurdles, in our state, country, and across the globe. When we look back at how far women have come, we are able to envision a future where gender equality is truly a reality, and women and girls are empowered to take full control of their lives and realize their biggest dreams. We are so grateful to work with strong, fearless, capable women each and every day. The women and girls we serve, like others before them, are creating greater futures for themselves, and paving the way for the next generation of girls to be even more empowered, confident, and successful.

Meet Ansley Carr,

our GEM Campus Ambassador at The University of Alabama and an aspiring entrepreneur.

Tell us about a woman in your life who has inspired you.

One woman who has inspired me greatly is my mom, Shelley Carr. She’s a middle school special education teacher and was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. She is so caring, patient, and independent.

Meet Coco,

an artist at Stardust Society, the world’s first and largest digital marketplace for crypto collectibles and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

How are you helping break the bias?

I am passionate about the intersection of art and technology within the innovative world of web3. Right now, only 5% of NFT (non-fungible token) sales are attributed to women artists, and I am determined to change that! I host a twice-weekly Twitter Space called New Girl On The Blockchain, where we are educating and onboarding women. I bring on knowledgeable guest speakers and we make sure to form a safe place for anyone to come up and ask a question. It can be intimidating to enter the NFT/crypto space and feel like others are speaking a different language, so I think it’s important to break things down to basics and get more women involved in this growing community!

Every Kendra Scott purchase empowers women and youth.

Check out our Shop for Good collection to find styles that give back even more. The Everlyne Friendship Bracelet in Ivory Mother of Pearl will benefit the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) at The University of Texas at Austin in celebration of Women’s History Month. Learn more about their mission to empower women to lead and #breakthebias @kswelinstitute