North America | United States | Business

Bumble Cofounder Becomes World’s Youngest Self-Made Woman Billionaire, Thanks To IPO

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Whitney Wolfe Herd ended the day Thursday with a net worth of $1.5 billion based on Bumble stock closing at $70.31.] Shares of dating app Bumble soared in its IPO on Thursday, turning its 31-year-old CEO and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd into the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire. Her nearly 12% stake in the company was worth $1.6 billion as of 12:40 p.m. EST on Thursday. Bumble stock opened at $76, much higher than its initial IPO price of $43 per share. The company made its debut hours after the markets opened on Thursday.
Middle East | Saudi Arabia | Culture

Saudi Arabia grants women right to obtain own passports, travel without male guardian

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Just over a year since women were granted the historical right to drive, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has now passed another monumental reform to enable females to finally obtain passports and travel alone. According to the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Information, the amendment – which was signed by the Saudi Cabinet on Thursday – overturns the longstanding regulation that women must gain approval from a male guardian to receive a passport or were granted a page in their guardian’s passport, rendering it illegal for them to travel abroad independently. Effective as of the end of August,
North America | United States | Business

The Fortune 500 has a new woman CEO: Accenture’s Julie Sweet

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Accenture has named Julie Sweet as its next CEO, adding to the few woman who run major companies. The consulting company said Thursday that Sweet, 51, will take the top job in September. She's currently the head of Accenture's North America business, which accounts for almost 50% of the company's global revenues. Sweet joined Accenture (ACN) in 2010. She served as the company's general counsel after 10 years as a partner at the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore. There are more women CEOs of Fortune 500 companies than ever before. The latest Fortune list, publ
North America | United States | Adventure

The women of NASA are looking to the lunar horizon

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Growing up, Holly Ridings, Anne McClain and Nujoud Merancy dreamed of space. But they didn't let those dreams rest to become flights of childhood fancy. Now, all three women work at NASA. McClain is an astronaut who just returned from a six-month stint on the International Space Station. Merancy is the Exploration Mission Planning and Analysis lead for the Orion spacecraft that will be part of the Artemis mission in 2024. And Ridings is the first female chief flight director. And they're all working toward the goal of landing the first woman on the moon by 2024.
North America | United States | Sports

An 11-year-old golfer qualifies for U.S. Women’s Amateur, becomes third-youngest qualifier in history

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When over 100 women tee it up later this year at the U.S. Women's Amateur at Old Waverly Golf Club in Mississippi, a child will be among them. That's because 11-year-old (!) Gianna Clemente made it into the field, and in doing so, became the third-youngest golfer to qualify for the event. After going out in 38 on her first nine earlier this week in the qualifier, Clemente dropped a bogey-free 33 on the back to get in. She clipped two other participants by a single stroke each. That's incredible. "I turned at 2 over, and I knew I had to step it up if I wanted to even finish well," she to
North America | United States | Sports

United States beats the Netherlands 2-0 to win its fourth Women’s World Cup title

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Megan Rapinoe stood on the field, arms outstretched, striking her now trademark victory pose symbolizing the confidence of a U.S. team that celebrated and savored each triumph at the Women’s World Cup. Rapinoe won the Golden Ball as top player and the Golden Boot as top scorer, and the United States backed up its brashness by winning while simultaneously making a strong statement for gender equity. “We’ve done exactly what we set out to do, done exactly what we wanted to do, said what we feel,” Rapinoe said. “All of us, really. I know sometimes my voice is louder, but everybody
South Asia | India | Career

Women are bringing solar energy to thousands of Indian villages

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India is trying to bring electricity to hundreds of millions of its citizens who live off the grid. And it's trying to ensure that the power comes from clean and renewable sources. Frontier Markets is helping to achieve both those goals in the Western desert state of Rajasthan, selling solar-powered products to hundreds of villages. The company is thriving by turning its customers into salespeople. The company employs women to sell products like lamps, stoves, and even TVs that run on solar power through a program called Solar Sahelis (Solar Friends). Each woman is in charge of sell
North America | United States | Science

24-Year-Old Biochemist Wins Miss Virginia Title After Doing A Science Experiment As Her Talent

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24-year-old biochemist Camille Schrier was crowned the new Miss Virginia recently, after showcasing her talents onstage in the form of a science experiment. While the usual ‘talents’ in these pageants often amount to singing a song or pulling a rabbit out of a hat, Ms. Schrier stepped out in lab coat and goggles to wow the judges with a demonstration of the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. After carefully mixing a solution of chemicals into beakers, Schrier’s experiment concluded with an explosion of blue and orange foam, which is known as the “Elephant Toothpaste” r
South Asia | Australia | Sports

Australia celebrates ‘greatest day’ in women’s sport

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It has been described by many as the greatest day in Australian women's sporting history. Australians woke up on Monday to a cascade of achievements from the nation's female athletes in tennis, golf, surfing and rowing. First, surfer Sally Fitzgibbons cut a monster wave at the Rio Pro to cruise to the world number one ranking in surfing. A few hours later, French Open tennis champion Ashleigh Barty won her third tournament of the year - meaning she will become Australia's first world number one in 16 years. Celebratory news bulletins in the morning were interrupted by more milestones.
Middle East | Saudi Arabia | Culture

A year on the road: how life has changed for Saudi women since taking the wheel

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Ammal Farahat has been driving in Saudi Arabia for a year. To celebrate, she’s finally registering her car under her own name. She bought her VW Passat five years ago, but had relinquished control of it to her drivers – until now. A year on from the historic decision to lift the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, thousands of women across the kingdom have spent 12 months leading a freer existence. The move came as part of a series of reforms implemented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since he assumed the role of heir apparent last year. It comes as part of a larger pla
Asia | Kyrgyzstan | Career

Kyrgyzstan’s space women blast off from male dominance

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Having grown up in one of the poorest and most conservative regions in Kyrgyzstan, 17-year-old Begaiym Isaakova never imagined she would work in tech, let alone be part of a team of young women building the country's first spacecraft. By age 15, Isaakova was shocked to see her peers in Jalal-Abad being married off, but not too surprised. The message that girls should prioritise knowing how to serve men started early and was everywhere, including in schools and homes. Instead of being sent down the aisle in a country where early and forced marriage - including by bride kidnap - is common
North America | United States | Sports

103-year-old sprinter Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins sets records on the track with every race

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Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins is the oldest woman ever to compete on an American track. And if this week's National Senior Games are any indication, the 103-year-old sprinter isn't slowing down any time soon. Hawkins won gold in the 100-meter dash at on Tuesday with a time of 46.07 seconds — falling six seconds shy of her own over-100 world record but beating the second place finisher at the Games, 91-year-old Julia Manigo, by a full second. The Louisiana resident also ran the 50-meter dash Monday and finished in 21.05 seconds.
International | Sports

Women’s Jiu-Jitsu Continues To Grow At 2019 IBJJF World Championships

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This year is the 21st anniversary of women competing at the IBJJF World Championships. Women made their debut at “Mundials” in 1998, two years after the first tournament was held for men. Two decades later many of the most dominant competitors and strongest female teams that we see represented at Worlds are still influenced by– or even led by– the women who pioneered a way for female competitors to flourish in the sport.
North America | United States | Sports

Visa Makes ‘Substantial Investment’ To Support Women’s Soccer

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Visa has announced a “substantial investment” in the future of women’s soccer, including a five-year partnership with the U.S. Soccer Federation. Eight days before the Women’s World Cup begins in France, Visa revealed it would partner with both the Women’s and Men’s U.S. National Teams. However, it said the terms of the deal ensured “at least 50%” of the investment would fund the USWNT and women’s soccer programs and surrounding marketing efforts.