Madeleine Albright, PhD, served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and went on to become the first woman to hold the position of U.S. Secretary of State. She is a professor at Georgetown University and the author of four best-selling books. www.albrightstonebridge.com

Isabel Allende is a best-selling author, a lifelong advocate for human rights, a passionate speaker, and the founder of the Isabel Allende Foundation.

Maya Angelou, PhD, is an accomplished poet, award-winning writer, performer, dancer, actress, director, activist, and teacher. She is also a three-time Grammy Award winner for her autobiographical spoken-word recordings. www.mayaangelou.com

Sandra Bernhard is a comedienne, actress, singer, and author who has been entertaining and challenging audiences for more than 25 years. She is also an advocate for social causes and women's rights. www.sandrabernhard.com

Margaret Cho is a comedienne, actress, best-selling author, activist, singer, and blogger. She’s won numerous humanitarian awards for her efforts to promote equal rights for all people, regardless of race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. www.margaretcho.com

Cameron Diaz is one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. A devoted environmentalist, she traveled the world to examine environmental issues for her MTV show, Trippin', and continues to raise awareness about the climate crisis.

Eve Ensler is an internationally acclaimed playwright and author best known for her award-winning play The Vagina Monologues. She is the founder and artistic director of V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls.

Melissa Etheridge is a two-time Grammy Award winner and a multi-platinum recording artist, as well as a human rights activist, breast cancer survivor, and 2007 Academy Award winner for best song in the documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. www.melissaetheridge.com

Jane Fonda is an Academy Award-winning actress, as well as an activist and advocate for environmental issues, human rights, and the empowerment of women and girls. She is a cofounder of The Women's Media Center. www.janefonda.com

Carol Gilligan, PhD, is an internationally acclaimed psychologist, writer, teacher, and pioneer of gender studies — particularly in the psychological and moral development of girls. She is a professor at New York University.

Jane Goodall, PhD, is a world-renowned primatologist, speaker, and author. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute, as well as Roots & Shoots, a global nonprofit that empowers youths to make a positive difference for all living things.

Charreah Jackson is a blogger, writer, and editor. A proud feminist, she is a frequent speaker on achieving success and women’s issues. www.charreahjackson.com

Annie Lennox is a Grammy Award-winning recording artist and founder of SING, a humanitarian organization that raises awareness for the AIDS/HIV pandemic in Africa. www.annielennox.com

Elizabeth Lesser is the cofounder and senior advisor of Omega Institute, the largest adult education center in the U.S. focusing on health, wellness, spirituality, social change, and creativity. She is also a host on Oprah Radio, a speaker, and a best-selling author.

Wangari Maathai, PhD, was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She founded The Greenbelt Movement, a nonprofit organization that has planted over 45 million trees across Kenya. She also cofounded the Nobel Women's Initiative.

Courtney E. Martin is a blogger, author, teacher, speaker, and editor at Feministing.com. She has appeared on the TODAY Show, the O’Reilly Factor, and MSNBC, and she has spoken on radio programs and at colleges and nonprofit organizations across the nation. www.courtneyemartin.com

Pat Mitchell was the first woman president and CEO of PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service. She is President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media and a dedicated member of numerous nonprofit boards. www.paleycenter.org/pat-connects

Kathy Najimy is a film, television, and Broadway actress. An activist for women's rights, AIDS, and animal rights, she has received numerous awards for her humanitarian work and has been the keynote speaker for over 50 organizations across the country. www.kathynajimy.com

Natalie Portman is an Oscar-nominated actress. She was named the first Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International, an organization that promotes micro-lending to empower women in poor countries by helping them start their own businesses.

Gloria Steinem is a renowned feminist activist, organizer, lecturer, and best-selling author. She cofounded Ms. Magazine in 1972, which has become a landmark in both women's rights and American journalism. She is also a cofounder of The Women’s Media Center. www.gloriasteinem.com

Loung Ung is a survivor of Cambodia’s killing fields and an activist for the elimination of land mines. She is also a lecturer and the author of two best-selling memoirs. www.loungung.com

Alice Walker is a best-selling author of many volumes of poetry, powerful nonfiction collections, and literary fiction, including the Pulitzer Prize-winner, The Color Purple. She is active in environmental and feminist causes and issues of economic justice. www.alicewalkersgarden.com

Kerry Washington is an award-winning actress and activist. She serves on the board of directors for V-Day and for The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit that educates entertainers about pressing issues so they can better inform and influence their communities and the nation.

Betty Williams won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for her work to bring peace to Northern Ireland. She is the founder and president of World Centers of Compassion for Children International and a cofounder of the Nobel Women's Initiative.