Empowering Women & Girls with Storytelling: A Conversation with Sharon D'Agostino, Founder of Say It Forward

Apr 6, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Audio File

“The thing we can all do immediately is listen - listen with our whole being. That is the only way we can understand other people's experiences in this world. I believe this is a great start on this long journey towards empowerment.” - Sharon D'Agostino 

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with Sharon D’Agostino (@SharonDAgostino), Founder of Say It Forward (@SayItForwardNow). Sharon shares how her path in the private sector leading the strategic philanthropy of a Fortune 50 company, coupled with her commitment to the health, safety, education and empowerment of girls, women and children, led her to create SayItForward.org, a web platform for women and girls to share their experiences with overcoming the fears, personal beliefs, or unrealistic expectations of others that have held them back in any way. With representation from over seventeen countries, Say It Forward has a profound impact on the girls and women who have shared their stories as well as on the readers, providing a shared understanding, appreciation and the common benefit of knowing that they are not alone. Jamie and Sharon also discuss the broader complexity of female empowerment and the importance of expanding data to include more inclusive statistics on women. Sharon explains how data bolsters the power of storytelling, which ensures that the human aspect of the data comes to the forefront. Lastly, Sharon provides insight into corporate responsibility, emphasizing how businesses have a responsibility to communities and the importance of approaching and engaging local leaders in grassroots program.

The Champions for Social Good podcast brings together thought leaders and practitioners in the social good movement to share learnings, educate and inspire change across the sector, and is hosted by Jamie Serino, Director of Marketing, MicroEdge + Blackbaud. For more information, please visit the MicroEdge + Blackbaud Resource Hub and www.microedge.com.

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