2024: A Very Demure, Very Mindful Year — Not!

2024: The Year Women Led Revolutions (and Faced Roadblocks)

Oh, 2024—you paradoxical, chaotic, utterly fascinating year. A messy mix of “mindful progress” and power grabs that kept trying to shove women into the backseat. Sure, the setbacks were plentiful (and painful), but let’s talk about the storms of female-led revolutions that will (hopefully) outlast all the noise.

Only catch? If we don’t start telling women’s leadership stories with honesty (or as our friends on one side of the Atlantic like to say: authentically) —the good, bad, and chaotic—we risk letting the naysayers speed up the backslide. #ChangeTheNarrative

Person of the Year: Gisele Pelicot

When Time Magazine crowned President elect Trump as Person of the Year—women around the world hit back with their own narrative. They reimagined the iconic cover featuring yes, the man accused of sexual misconduct and replaced him with Gisele Pelicot, the French hero who fought to convict her abusive husband. Her courage in exposing systemic failures has turned her into a global symbol of justice. It wasn’t just a clapback; it was a reminder of what real leadership looks like in a world that still loves to glorify power over accountability.

But here’s the thing: outrage isn’t enough. Instead of screaming into the Twitter void, let’s spotlight how Pelicot’s approach could inspire legal reforms across France (her husband somehow managed to only get 20 years imprisonment)—and beyond. Because when websites glorifying subjugation attract clicks, it’s time to double down on dismantling toxic systems.

Kamala Who? U.S. Politics in the Rearview

Meanwhile, across the pond, Kamala Harris’s run at the White House and even her vice presidency felt…well, like a missed opportunity. With Trump back in the White House (much as we’d all like to fight reality), Harris’s legacy (does she have one?) has already been overshadowed by his MAGA redux. By 2025 I can imagine a world where we’re asking – Kamala who? Especially considering the Trump distraction game is at peak already.

With his tariff strategy already sending countries into a tizzy, the Trumpian fallout’s already begun and the man hasn’t even been sworn in yet. He’s positioned Canada as a “state” on Truth Social even as Canadian Prime Minister (Trump calls him Governor) Justin Trudeau has fallen prey to the transition chaos - Trudeau supposedly told his Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland that she was fired (a’la Apprentice style) — and he did it over a Zoom call! (wth indeed)

Freeland might be Trump’s first tariff-war casualty, but this is only the beginning of the fallout.

Buckle up—2025 is going to be wild.

Power Plays and Popcorn Moments

🇧🇩 Authoritarianism? Alive and well. Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina ran off to hide in New Delhi after being deposed and is now under investigation of enforced disappearances and a varied smorgasboard of human rights violations. Having met her once, I’ll leave it as - there is definite merit in those reports, somewhere.

🇵🇭 In the Philippines, Vice President Sara Duterte is facing an attempted murder allegation. It seems she tried to murder her boss, the President. That’s turning into a telenovela.

🇵🇪 Peru? Its least-liked president, Dina Boluarte, somehow dodged impeachment just as China unveiled its shiny Belt and Road Initiative at Chancay Port. (Spoiler: it’s less about cooperation, more about geopolitics.)

🇮🇳 The Gandhi family led Congress Party may have been defeated in India’s elections - but thethe spotlight was firmly on the country’s women and youth, who seemed to give the BJP’s right-wing Hindu nationalist agenda a run for its money. Priyanka Gandhi’s bold Stand for Palestine bag caught attention (while her party didn’t exactly make waves in the elections), raising the question: is it time for Congress to ditch her uncharismatic brother and embrace the leadership of a woman who could channel the legacy of grandmama, Indira Gandhi?

Based on statistics from UN Women alongside current election updates, just 20 countries have a woman Head of State, and 17 countries have a woman Head of Government. At the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years.

We could choose to focus on the negatives but what about the wins?

Wins at the Polls (Yes, There Were Some!)

Let’s talk female wins this year, shall we?

🇮🇪 Ireland welcomed its first female Speaker of the House, Verona Murphy.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales crowned its first female First Minister, Eluned Morgan.

🇹🇭 Thailand elected its youngest Prime Minister ever and its second female - 37-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is the niece of Thailand’s first female PM proving the Shinawatra dynasty still has serious staying power.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka was the first country in the world to appoint a woman as prime minister. And in September this year, the tiny island nation elected Dr Harini Amarasuriya to become its third female prime minister.

🇲🇽 Mexico swore in its first female President Claudia Sheinbaum. The former mayor of Mexico kicked off her term with a bold declaration: “those who dreamed of the possibility that one day no matter if we were born as women or men we would achieve our dreams and desires without our sex determining our destiny.”

🇳🇦 Namibia’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became the country’s first female president, though her conservative stance on reproductive rights raises some eyebrows.

A Changing of the Guard

🇪🇺 Europe’s new Commission is (significantly) a girl gang, with heavy hitters like Ursula von der Leyen, Teresa Ribera, and Kaja Kallas taking the lead. But they’ve got their work cut out—auditors slammed the EU for dragging its feet on rules and regulations. And the lack of checks and balances when handing out funds. Case in point? The €1.2M funding debacle for an anti-abortion group. (openDemocracy revealed the EU’s Erasmus+ programme had handed €1.2m to the World Youth Alliance (WYA), a US-based charity that promotes anti-abortion disinformation.)

Not exactly in line with the EU value system or its rules

These are the EU bosses you need to get to know:

• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
• Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President (2024-2029), Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
• Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President (2024-2029), Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
• Kaja Kallas, High Representative/Vice President (2024-2029), Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
• Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice President (2024-2029), Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
• Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner (2024-2029), Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union
• Hadja Lahbib Commissioner (2024-2029), Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Management
• Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner (2024-2029), Mediterranean
• Marta Kos, Commissioner (2024-2029), Enlargement
• Jessika Roswall, Commissioner (2024-2029), Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
• Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner (2024-2029), Startups, Research and Innovation

🇬🇧 While elections and the noise is signalling a move to the right in Europe – the UK pivoted left, with a Labour government featuring Angela Rayner as Deputy PM and Rachel Reeves as Chancellor. While they battle taxpayer’s anger and some fashion scandals to boot, while trying to make peace with Trump — the now opposition got itself a new leader to clean up its image. But Kemi Badenoch, isn’t helping her/her party’s cause with gaffes like calling maternity pay “too much.” Yikes.

Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025

Nothing feels more fragile than the South China Sea at this year’s end. Even more than prior years: For the past eight years, Taiwan’s pro-sovereignty party has been led by the country’s first ever female president, Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai promoted a Taiwanese identity separate to China, and garnered global admiration for her strong stance against China’s authoritarianism.

In January this year, the presidential and legislative elections saw Ing-Wen’s successor, the current vice president and the Democratic Progressive party (DPP) nominee, William Lai Ching-te secure a third consecutive presidential term for the party. It was a win for democracy.

Women, Peace, and Security: A 2024 Global Snapshot

In 2024, the global picture for women in conflict zones remained as grim as ever, but also revealed the resilience and courage of women determined to rewrite the script. Countries like South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Mali, and Libya ranked among the worst places in the world for women to live, let alone thrive. The common denominator? Conflicts fueled by geopolitics, resource wars, and authoritarian regimes where women bear the brunt of violence—both as targets and as survivors striving for change.

A new report by Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security and the Peace Research Institute Oslo highlighted some chilling realities: while 60 countries saw improvements in women’s rights, the situation deteriorated in conflict-ridden nations. Security, or the lack thereof, was often the linchpin. Rape as a weapon of war, restricted access to basic resources, and legal barriers kept millions of women trapped in cycles of violence.

Sudan: Women Fight Amidst the World’s Forgotten War

In Sudan, a country on the brink of famine and displacement, women have become powerful, yet often overlooked, agents of change. In the world’s most forgotten war, the RSF’s violence has escalated and impacted 25 million people. They have especially targeted women with rape, assassination, and the general civilian population with widespread atrocities.

But activists like Hanin Ahmed refuse to be silenced. Despite the global scramble for Sudan’s Red Sea ports and illicit gold, Ahmed’s grassroots emergency programs in Omdurman offers a lifeline to forgotten communities, and she is also ensuring women’s voices remain central in peace talks. Meanwhile, the murder of journalist Hanan Adam highlights the dangerous price women pay for speaking out in a war that the world has largely ignored.

Syria: Women Journalists Risk Everything for Truth

As Syria tentatively begins its journey back to normalcy post-Assad, its women are demanding more than just reconstruction; they’re calling for representation. The Syrian Female Journalists Network, despite threats and violence, has amplified the voices of women who endured years of bombings, starvation, and torture. They’re shaping a future that doesn’t just rebuild infrastructure but also includes women as key stakeholders in decision-making.

This is critical, as studies show that when women are part of peace negotiations, agreements are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. Women aren’t just victims; they are architects of enduring peace, and Syria is no exception.

Israel/Palestine: Women Challenge Status Quo

In the wake of escalating tensions, women-led organizations like Women Wage Peace in Israel and Tal’at, a Palestinian feminist collective, continued their cross-border dialogues and protests. While political leaders on all sides remained entrenched in the status quo, these women demonstrated through the year, the power of grassroots mobilization in demanding change.

Ukraine: Blackouts are not gender neutral

Since 2022, over 1,120 attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have disproportionately impacted women, who face reduced work hours and wages due to power outages. In the face of Russia’s ongoing invasion, Ukrainian women leaders have emerged as pivotal figures in civil society, advocating for the nation’s interests on the international stage. Notably, Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Center for Civil Liberties and a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been instrumental in initiatives like “Tribunal for Putin” (T4P), which documents Russian war crimes, and #MakeRussiaPay, aiming to redirect frozen Russian assets toward Ukraine’s reconstruction and defense efforts.

The Stark Divide: Best vs. Worst Places to Be a Woman

While countries like Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria remain at the bottom of the Georgetown Women, Peace, and Security Index, the Nordic countries continue to lead as the best places for women. Norway, Switzerland, Finland, and Denmark rank as the safest, most equitable nations, showcasing what’s possible with progressive policies and strong gender equality frameworks. The global disparity couldn’t be clearer.

The women leaders in these spaces play a crucial role in mobilizing global support and ensuring timely military and financial aid and keeping empathy public alive, especially as citizen fatigue toward these conflict zones grow.

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Business in 2024: Power Plays, Chip Wars, and Cheugy Apologies

From billionaires to boardrooms, 2024 showed women in business navigating both triumphs and turbulence in a world still grappling with power, politics, and gender dynamics.

Alice Walton, heiress to the Walmart empire, reclaimed her spot atop the global rich list with a jaw-dropping $113 billion fortune. She edged out Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the L’Oréal scion, whose cosmetics empire kept her among the top contenders but couldn’t match Walton’s meteoric financial resurgence. Julia Koch, widow of Koch Industries tycoon David Koch, held strong in third, while Abigail Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Investments, continued to wield power over trillions in assets.

In tech, Nvidia CFO Colette Kress stole the spotlight as the chipmaker soared to a staggering $3.6 trillion valuation, but trouble brewed in the U.S.-China chip wars. With Biden’s export restrictions and China’s retaliatory antitrust probes, Kress faces a fiscal minefield. How she navigates this storm will shape Nvidia’s future and its grip on AI innovation.

Brazil’s Nubank, now a global financial powerhouse, expanded its reach with a $250 million Series D funding round for South African Tyme Group, but co-founder Cristina Junqueira has been surprisingly out of the spotlight. Meanwhile, CEO David Vélez continues to shine as the public face of the world’s largest neobank, raising questions about the visibility of women leaders in fintech.

And finally, Matilda Djerf, the Instagram-savvy founder of Swedish fashion brand Djerf Avenue, found herself in hot water after reports of staff mistreatment surfaced. Her apologetic Instagram post—blaming rapid growth for her lack of leadership readiness—earned mixed reviews, proving that even in 2024, “cheugy” can hit even the trendiest of brands.

Artificial Intelligence: Women Shaping Tech’s Next Frontier

2024 was a landmark year for women in AI, even if headlines often fixated on the usual suspects like Elon Musk. Behind the noise, Professor Andrea Rockall and her team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust developed an AI diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer—a revolutionary leap in women’s health that deserved far more attention.

🤖 Women-led AI startups also broke funding records. Brazil’s RadarFit, under CEO Jade Utsch Filizzola, focused on health tech solutions, while the U.S.’s Opmed.ai, led by More Brokman, tackled medical AI. Over in Spain, Bitbrain, founded by María López, advanced neurotechnology to treat Mild Cognitive Impairment. Meanwhile, Inna Modja, a Malian artist and climate advocate, leveraged AI to track environmental shifts, empowering faster responses to Africa’s climate crises.

🛰️ In space tech, women redefined the race for connectivity. Eve Berneke, CEO of Eutelsat, championed geostationary orbit (GEO) solutions as a cost-effective alternative to the trendy Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites like Starlink. Her push for cutting-edge GEO innovations—think 3D printing, smallsats, and software-defined satellites—ensures affordable tech access for underserved regions.

While women in AI and tech are making waves, their contributions still fight for the spotlight in a space dominated by louder, wealthier players.

Science: Women Quietly Revolutionized 2024

🚀 NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, stuck on the ISS until February, became a fitting symbol of women’s precarious place in science—always holding the system together but rarely prioritized. Meanwhile, women in science delivered groundbreaking contributions that flew under the radar.

🐝 Rosa Vásquez Espinoza’s Amazon expeditions unlocked the secrets of stingless bees and the medicinal honey they produce, while her discovery of bacteria in the Boiling River showcased the Amazon’s untapped potential.

🧠 Lebanese-American geneticist Dr. Huda Zoghbi hailed a new era for treating “untreatable” diseases after pioneering a drug that repairs brain cells damaged by genetic disorders like Timothy syndrome.

🩸 Elsewhere, menstrual blood broke boundaries as the FDA approved Sara Naseri’s ( the CEO and co-founder of Qvin) Q-Pad, a diagnostic menstrual pad that tracks blood sugar levels, proving periods are more than a monthly nuisance.

🧬 In cancer research, Dr. Rachael Natrajan’s work on the SF3B1 gene brought new hope, showing how PARP inhibitors could target multiple cancers beyond hereditary cases.

Despite these monumental strides, women—especially from East Asia and Africa—remained sidelined in media coverage. The reason? It’s not the science; it’s how difficult the media seems to find their name (I can empathise!).

Other Important News

🇮🇷 Iran announced plans for a controversial “hijab removal treatment clinic,” spearheaded by Mehri Talebi Darestani of the Tehran Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Framed as providing “scientific and psychological treatment for hijab removal,” the initiative is another escalation in the state’s battle over women’s rights.

🇦🇫 In Afghanistan, the Taliban’s latest draconian decree bans nursing and midwifery training, following their sweeping restrictions on women’s visibility, voices, and public interactions. One Afghan woman lamented, “Are we not human?” The supreme leader, Hebatullah Akhundzada, seems intent on erasing women entirely, leaving even childbirth seemingly reliant on divine intervention.

🇵🇰 On a brighter note, Pakistan celebrated a milestone in March as Aalia Neelum became the first female Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court. Known for championing gender equality, Justice Neelum has led initiatives like specialized courts for gender-based violence, solidifying her legacy in advancing women’s rights.

🇮🇪 In Ireland, voters rejected proposed constitutional changes to update references to women and family. Despite calls to modernize the language, the public sentiment preserved the status quo during a dual referendum in March.

🇮🇸 Finally, Iceland’s lava could be the future of sustainable construction. Architect Arnhildur Pálmadóttir’s innovative idea positions volcanic rock as a transformative material—get ready for a “Grand Designs” season showcasing homes made of magma!

2024’s Entertainment Highlights

📺 Ellen DeGeneres broke her silence on the messy end of her daytime show during the opening night of her Ellen’s Last Stand…Up tour in Los Angeles, quipping about being “kicked out of showbiz” for being “mean.”

👩‍🎤 Meanwhile, the queen of nice, Taylor Swift, continued her reign, dominating Spotify for the second year running as the Top Global Artist. Swift’s Eras tour powered her to 26.6 billion streams, and women ruled Spotify’s top albums list, claiming 8 of the top 10 spots—three of them belonging to Swift herself. Women in entertainment kept shaping the cultural narrative, subtly yet powerfully.

2024’s Sports Highlights

In a landmark year, we not only had a spectacular Olympics hosted by France but to kick it off — the vision of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swimming in the rather gross Seine river to prove — it was clean enough for competition. We found out it wasn’t, after the Games.

But more key to making women’s sports mainstream was the money banked!

11 women athletes broke the $10 million earnings mark, led by tennis stars Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Serena Williams. But the gender pay gap loomed large: the combined earnings of these women barely hit 12% of what their male counterparts in Forbes’ top 20 raked in—$2.23 billion. Unfortunately despite these numbers, no women cracked the top 50 of the highest-paid athletes overall, underscoring the fight for equity in sports earnings.

In Conclusion: A Year of Silent Revolutions and Loud Resistance

2024 wasn’t exactly mindful, but it might just have been revolutionary in the tonal change that’s begun. Women quietly flipped the script — from AI breakthroughs to seismic political moments — while a distracted world focused elsewhere. They didn’t wait for permission; they led, built, innovated, and defied, even as resistance loomed large.

This wasn’t the year of bold declarations; it was the year of deliberate action. From reshaping boardrooms to rewriting scientific possibilities, women proved that power doesn’t always come with a megaphone — sometimes, it’s found in relentless, unapologetic progress.

2024 was the year the world learned this: women’s impact doesn’t need validation to matter. It’s happening. It’s unstoppable. It’s for all humanity. It’s time everyone caught up.

2024’s WTH moment

She kangaroo hopped onto our screens, went viral and the world’s response to Aussie Olympian Rachael Gunn aka Raygun – WTH!?

Toward the end of the year, she retired from breaking, saying the backlash and online hate was simply too much for any person.

Watch her full performance at the Paris Olympics!