Happy belated International Women’s Day! To celebrate I rounded up a list of 50 women who have inspired and informed me this year + who I think everyone should know and love. From well known artists and authors to entrepreneurs doing their very best in the face of daily challenges, these women all contribute to a diverse, creative and inspirational generation of women I am thankful to be part of and am lucky to raise daughters in. I could have added 100s of names to this list, it barely scratches the surface of the creative women doing great work so be sure to meet us in the comments to connect us with who inspires & informs you!
50 Creative Women Who Inspire & Inform
- Alex Franzen: Writer, speaker, educator
- Alida Kinnie Starr: Musician, artist, activist
- Amy Ng (PikaLand): Illustrator & teacher
- Amy Quarry (Small Town Love): Shop local innovator, community builder
- Amy Turn Sharp: Poet, rebel, writer, teacher
- Arianne Foulks (Aeolidia): Website/branding guru, small business resource, educator
- Arounna Khounnoraj (Bookhou): Artist, maker, designer
- Brene Brown: Educator, writer, shame-destroyer
- Christa Couture: Musician, survivor, writer
- Christina Platt (Bamboletta): Doll maker, community business owner
- Cody Nations (Lu & Ed): Monster maker, creative champion, entrepreneur
- Colleen Attara: Storyteller, eco-artist, creative visionary
- Danielle Maveal: Maker, educator, animal activist
- Darice Pauselius (Pauselius): Designer, all around creative lady
- Dianne Gilleand (CraftyPod): Maker, educator, creative advocate
- Dorkys Ramos (Porcupine Hugs): Illustrator, writer, cancer survivor
- Dyana Valentine: Oracle, educator, why-finder
- Elsa Mora: Artist, paper-cutter, inspiration
- Emily McDowell: Illustrator, designer
- Gayle Tzemach Lemmon: Author, women’s advocate, entrepreneur
- Gennine D Zlatkis: Author, artist, illustrator
- Glenis Redmond: Poet, artist, activist
- Heather Davulcu (April Heather Art): Artist, illustrator
- Isa Maria Seminega: Entrepreneur, creative, educator
- Jan Halvarson (Poppytalk): Creative curator, blogger, designer
- Janine Vangool (Uppercase Magazine): Editor, magazine creator, art advocate
- Jenelle Montilone (Trashn2Tees): Change maker, upcycled business creator, educator
- Jennie Perillo: Author, cook, survivor
- Jessica Hische: Designer, educator, artist
- Jessica Nichols (Sweet Eventide): Photographer, IP activist, cancer survivor
- Joy Charde: Surface pattern illustrator, master doodler
- Kal Barteski: Artist, brush script painter, IP activist
- Karen LePage: Master seamstress, kind clothing advocate
- Karen Walrond (Chookooloonks): Photographer, writer, educator, author
- Kari Chapin: Author, creative advocate, community builder
- Kathleen & Tara (Braid Creative): Graphic designers, educators
- Kathy Sierra ( Serious Pony): Tech innovator, programmer, author
- Lela Barker (Lucky Break Consulting): Entrepreneur, educator, wholesale Jedi master
- Lynn Russel (Satsuma Press): Designer, letterpress printer, inspiring mama
- Mariko Paterson (Forage Studios): Ceramic artist, creative powerhouse, entrepreneur
- Mati Rose McDonough: Artist, painter, author, educator
- Michelle Ward (When I Grow Up Coach): Career coach, author, educator
- Pema Chodron: Spiritual teacher, author, leader
- Rena Tom (Makeshift Society): Creative innovator, community builder, entrepreneur
- Shauna Panczyszyn (Shauna Parmesan): Hand lettering extraordinaire
- Tara Swiger: Writer, teacher, Starship Captain
- Tif Smith: Designer, letterpress printer, tenacious entrepreneur
- Tracey Selingo: Writer, educator, entrepreneur
- Zoe Rooney: Web developer, entrepreneur, coding rockstar
- YOU: Creative, kind, intelligent, resourceful, unique, talented YOU!
<3 <3 <3
Honored to be listed among such amazing women. 🙂
You so deserve to be on all the lists Shauna, I’ve been so inspired by the way you launched into your freelance career & seeing your star go shooting upwards ever since. You’re amazing!
Heyyy thanks for including me 🙂 Nice way to start a Monday, with a virtual high five and a list of websites to explore!
I couldn’t possibly make a list of women I admire without having you on it Zoe, you’ve been a defining mentor for me in so many ways & I happen to know you are the best kind of hero-one who does what needs to be done to the best of her ability every time. That is pretty darn magical to me <3
Jessika Hepburn: community creator, fierce mamabear (and daughterbear), hilarious and supportive virtual sister to many!
Oh you are the bestest Arianne, thank you for being such a great support through all the iterations of OMHG-I am lucky + honoured to count you as a mentor but most of all as a friend!!!
Yes, yes, yes!
I am so, so very humbled and honored to have made this list!!! ♥ Jessika, you are such a shining inspiration and model of kind-heartedness, knowledge, love and honesty to me. I have so much respect and mad love for you, friend! I am so glad the universe brought us together! ♥
Lovely friend it is no wonder when I put the call out on FB for suggestions of amazing women that your name came up a few times-I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again-Cody, you are a bright light for our community/the maker world. Your business is adorable but you are exceptional & I’m so thankful we connected! I can no longer imagine life without your sweet self brightening it up <3
Thank you for putting this marvellous list together and introducing me to so many new, inspiring creative souls to connect with. I’m honoured to be included in the list!
Of course!!! You have been such an inspiration to me + so many in the OMHG community & beyond. I’m endlessly impressed by how you marry your ethics with action and continue to grow your business in a way that feels right for you. I adore you + your work always!!!
Y’all are all really awesome!!
So are you 🙂
Goodness, I’m also humbled to be included in such a badass list! To be surrounded by so many women that I turn to for inspiration is quite incredible. Thank you so so much for creating this list and introducing me to not only other creatives that I haven’t “met” yet, but also other survivors. This is such a gift!
You are a total badass Dorkys & have so totally earned your place on this list! I love how you took your cancer experience and used it to fuel a more creative, connected & joyful life-you inspire me like crazy gorgeous! Hope to watch you kicking ass for many years to come 🙂
This day has been a special one indeed and then to be on this list! With these amazing ladies. I am overwhelmed with all the goodness. Thank you Jess for all you do here everyday for so many. Ripples become huge waves of change…so much love. xo
You are amazing! This list would never be complete without your work, words & wonderfulness on it-you are my hero in so many ways & your art adds beauty + depth to this beautiful world. Thank you for being such an inspiration & being my dear friend!
ps….love my job description. Ordering new business cards. You are amazing!
I love my job description too, so clear and succinct!
A deep bow to you, Jessika. I’m humbled and honored and so in awe of the work you do in the world and the way you have built such a beautiful, useful, inspiring community. Big love to you. xoxo
Big love right back to you Tracey! I’ve loved watching you evolve over the years and am always amazed at how completely YOU everything you create is-that is no easy task! Thank you for being an incredible friend, supporter, woman & mentor!
Humbled to share space with these amazing women…and to be counted on such a list by one so beautifully true as you, Jess. Bursting. Blissful. Blessed. (I hope you feel those ripples…) <3
You inspire & inform with all you do Darice in such an honest, accessible + kind way. I am honoured to count you one of my closest friends & give thanks that this place connected us, I can’t imagine life without you! Thank you for everything but most especially for being your radiantly wonderful self <3
wow Jessika–I am pinching myself. Seriously? Honored and humbled and quite stunned. What a LIST!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Of course you are on this list you bright, beautiful, brilliant creative lady! The way you are creating your business and following the path of your art is an inspiration + I am so proud of all you do!
I love this!!!! What a great way to celebrate the women who inspire us all.
Hooray! Thank you!!!!
You are all such incredible inspirations to me! Jessika – What Arianne said! You need to include yourself! Thanks for putting this together because while I’m already inspired by so many on here, there are some new people I need to check out! =D
DANG IT! The biggest problem with lists like this is I inevitably miss people who are so important like your wonderful creative self! Sorry I missed adding you to this list but know you are on my internal list of ladies I couldn’t live without! Adore you!
OMG! I missed this list (and my inclusion on it!) until now! Thank you so much, Jessika– what an honor to be included among so many phenomenal women. And thank you, also, for shining a light on the folks I didn’t yet know about!
You are so so so welcome Emily, thank YOU for all the work you do & the inspiration you’ve brought to my life over the years! I’ve loved watching your business + art really take off since OMHG began and am in awe of all you create 🙂
That last one made me smile 🙂 These are all great women! Cannot wait to check out their amazing work.
It is so true! Thank you for being your fabulous self & being part of our creative community!
Wow! What an amazing list Jessika. Thank you for creating it and sharing!
Oh my goodness, Jess! I’m so honored and humbled to be a part of this list of such amazing women… Looking forward to learning more about the ladies on the list!
You’ve put together such an amazing list of woman- so many of them inspire and motive me every single day (including you!!) I’m humbled to be included here and looking forward to meeting more passionate makers, innovators, and mamas who are making a difference. Most importantly thank you Jess for always believing in me and allowing me to share all of my big scary ideas out loud.
Wow. What a beautiful group of ladies! I could spend hours surfing from site to site. Thanks for gathering this list. As a solo / mompreneur, it’s nice to be reminded I’m not alone. 🙂
brilliant–and so honored to be included. love learning about humans new-to-me. giant hug. Lisa Fabrega (just dreamt for her retreat last week in Panama) is doing some very interesting leadership work.
Whoooooa! Honored + humbled. What a neat list. 🙂
This is amazing! Thank you for writing this list. I’ve just discovered a new set of talented women!
THIS! YOU! I am dying. Thank you so so so so much. I have been behind on all my reading this week. GIRL! LOVE YOU. Thank you so much. You are such a force. xoxoox
It’s been a week since I originally saw myself on this beautiful list of women, many of whom I have followed and admired for years. I am still in awe of my own presence here and full of heartfelt gratitude for meeting the OMHG just about one year ago. It’s a brilliant, kind, loving and supportive community doing so much good in the world. Truly honored and humbled, thank you Jessika!
AWESOME list!!
Hey I am late to this but thanks so much for the shout out!! You should most definitely be at the top of that list!!! XOXOXOX
Great post! Very inspiring!