Frédérique Campagne Irwin: Elevating Women’s Stories and Inspiring Change

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Welcome to Smart, Amazing Conversations with Dr. Nancy, a podcast that explores the stories of life and leadership from extraordinary women and men who are making a difference and creating a better world. Each episode features powerful conversations filled with personal stories, insights, and actionable advice to inspire you to lead, learn, and make a difference.

Show Notes:
In this episode, Dr. Nancy sits down with Frédérique Campagne Irwin, CEO of the National Women’s History Museum, to discuss the power of storytelling and representation in advancing gender equality. Frédérique shares insights into the Museum’s mission to inspire change by showcasing women’s achievements and addressing the gap between access and representation. She highlights the upcoming Women Making History Awards Gala, honoring ceiling breakers like Sarah Blakely and Dr. Opal Lee, and the launch of “She’s Not a Footnote and Neither Are You” campaign. 

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About Frédérique Campagne Irwin:
Frédérique Campagne Irwin is a seasoned entrepreneur and advocate for women’s empowerment, with over 25 years of experience in strategic management, non-profit and commercial business, impact, and entrepreneurship. As the President and CEO of the National Women’s History Museum, she has dedicated herself to showcasing the significant role of women in shaping American history and culture. Before her leadership role at the museum, she served as the Managing Director of Impact Strategy at the Sorensen Impact Center, where she led initiatives for equity in higher education and women in entrepreneurship. Her dedication to empowering women was also evident in her founding and leadership of Her Corner, a company that supported women and educated them on how to scale their businesses. Frédérique’s commitment to creating networks, inspiring confidence, and elevating women’s voices has been at the core of her work, making her an influential figure in women’s advocacy and business leadership.

About the National Women’s History Museum:

Founded in 1996, the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) stands as a pioneering online platform dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the multifaceted contributions of women to society. Esteemed for its leadership in women’s history education, NWHM not only uncovers and interprets the myriad untold stories of women through history but also acts as a vibrant space designed for inspiration, collaboration, and the amplification of women’s roles across time. With a mission to transform perceptions of women’s potential and power, especially among women and girls, the Museum addresses significant gaps in historical narratives presented in traditional education systems by offering scholarly content and educational initiatives.

Episode Timestamp:

Here’s a timestamp breakdown for the episode based on the provided content:

[00:02:03] Dr. Nancy welcomes Frédérique Campagne Irwin to the show and the two discuss her nickname, “Fred.”.

[00:04:14] ] Frédérique explains that through her work at the National Women’s History Museum, she can make the biggest impact in her lifetime, and describes how that is possible by changing the paradigm of what we think women and girls are capable of.

[00:07:20] Frédérique previews the Women Making History Awards Gala, which is held in Washington, DC, March 20, at the Anthem, a big music venue. with live performances and spectacular speakers, and shares they have young professional tickets for people who need help with ticket costs.

[00:09:11] Frédérique highlights Dr. Opal Lee, a 98-year-old honoree who championed Juneteenth as a holiday and the other honorees.

[00:10:28] Dr. Nancy mentions Mattel being honored at the gala – as the first corporate recipient – for creating Barbie..

[00:12:20] Frédérique discusses the contrast between the abundance of access to education and the lack of representation for women in decision-making positions across key areas like economics, healthcare, education, and politics.

[00:15:10] Frédérique shares survey results showing misconceptions about gender equality in the U.S. and how 54% of those surveyed thought it already exists.

[00:16:15] Frédérique introduces the campaign, “She’s Not a Footnote and Neither Are You.”

[00:19:04] Frédérique talks about the gala as an inspiring event to honor women and motivate attendees to make change. She encourages everyone to come to the gala, and for those who can’t come, join NWHM via the website.

[00:25:21] Dr. Nancy provides details on how to learn more about the gala and participate via womenshistory.org.