NASA honors trailblazers on Women's Equality Day

In Mountain View, a day-long series of panel discussions celebrating the achievements of women since the suffrage movement.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Organization hosted a call to women leaders from all walks of life, at the NASA Ames facility.

“We want to recognize with these amazing women leaders how far we’ve come but truly how far we still need to go,” said Carl Guardino, executive director of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

Monday afternoon more than 450 women ranging in age from a five-year-old girl to an 85-year-old grandmother, listened to multiple panel discussions centered on improving the number and prominence of women in the workplace.

“I always feel very fortunate that I get to do what I do every day,” said NASA Deputy Chief Astronaut Dr. Megan McArthur.

Ten years ago, she flew into space, as part of the last service mission to the Hubble Telescope. Now, the Mountain View native sees her efforts as paving the way for more women in space— to the moon as part of Project Artemis, and beyond.

“We have a really diverse workforce. And there are women at every level in my workforce, making decisions making the strategic decisions. Making the day-to-day operational decisions,” said McArthur. 

Added NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, “I have an 11-year-old daughter, and I want her to see herself as having all of the opportunities that I saw myself having when I was growing up.”

The celebration of leadership on Women’s Equality Day included those blazing a trail in the U.S. Congress.

“When women succeed, America succeeds,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif). “This facility would not be here now if not for Anna Eshoo saving it in the congress of the united states.” 

Added Representative Anna Eshoo (D-Calif) when remarking about those who participated in the Suffrage Movement, “Those women could have only dreamed in their wildest dreams that there would be a woman speaker of the United States.”

This initial kick-off event will be followed by 10 to 12 more roundtable discussions put on by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group over the next year. The goal is to deepen the discussion over women’s issues, all leading up to the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.