#AccelerateAction – This is the theme for this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, and I must say, it powerfully reflects the urgency of our time alongside the need for collective action, rapid progress, and a future where gender equality is no longer a distant goal but a present reality. At the current pace, full parity won’t be reached until 2158—five generations from now, according to data from the World Economic Forum. We cannot afford to wait. It’s time to break barriers, challenge outdated norms, and take bold steps toward true equality.
History proves that, despite challenges, women have consistently defied barriers, pioneering innovations that have transformed everyday life with remarkable breakthroughs. A powerful way to drive progress faster is by recognizing and highlighting groundbreaking innovations in diverse fields led by women.
1. Solar-Powered Lamp – Anna Stork & Andrea Sreshta
When natural disasters strike, the devastation often leaves communities in darkness, cutting off access to electricity, especially when it’s needed most. In such critical moments, ready solutions can be lifesaving. Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta, founders of LuminAID, answered this urgent need with their innovative solar-powered inflatable lights. Their creation continues to make a profound impact, offering a simple yet powerful solution for disaster-stricken regions and remote communities facing energy shortages.
The idea was born in 2010 when the duo, then graduate students at Columbia University’s School of Architecture, were moved by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti. With a shared passion for solar lighting technology, they created LuminAID in 2014, a solar-powered inflatable lantern that illuminates 10 square feet for 16 hours, recharges in a few hours of sunlight, and fits into a pocket. The solar-powered lamp is lightweight and packable as it inflates to diffuse light while reducing glare.
Partnering with NGOs and relief groups, Sreshta and Stork have turned LuminAID from a school project into a global initiative, providing essential lighting to crisis-affected communities.
2. First Wearable AI Health Monitor – Dr. Rosalind Picard
Rosalind Picard, an MIT professor and the founder of Affective Computing, has developed wearable devices that monitor and analyze physiological data for health insights. By applying machine learning to this data, her research has enhanced personal wellness monitoring and enables early detection of potential health issues. As one of the most notable scholars in digital health, Picard has made significant contributions in the amalgamation of technology and AI with contributions to medicine and healthcare innovation.
‘Affective Computing’ is a term introduced by Rosalind Picard in her groundbreaking 1997 book that equips computers, robots, and interactive systems with emotional intelligence. Her pioneering work has driven AI-based advancements in psychiatry and neurology, leading to innovations such as the first smart watch capable of detecting and alerting to seizures. Through her research, Picard has transformed digital health by creating technologies that address various medical challenges and improve overall patient care.
3. Autonomous Mobile Robots – Melonee Wise
Robotics has long been seen as a male-dominated field, but trailblazing women have challenged this perception. Melonee Wise, a robotics expert, founded Fetch Robotics in 2014, pioneering autonomous mobile robots for warehouses. With a strong background in the open-source Robot Operating System, she has played a key role in shaping the industry by designing hardware and software for seamless automation. Wise has prioritized usability, ensuring that robotic solutions remain efficient, scalable, and accessible.
With over 25 years in robotics, Wise has developed algorithms, libraries, and hardware for autonomous boats, cars, personal robots, AMRs, and battlebots. Through her work in the field of robotics, she has commercialized robotic platforms and deployed over 1,500 robots across 26+ countries. Her expertise spans complex robotic systems, and she holds more than four patents with patented innovations focused on support structure detection and advanced automation technologies.
4. Desktop CNC Machine- Danielle Applestone
CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology enables creators to bring ideas to life, but its bulky size and need for a dedicated space have often been limiting factors. To address this, Danielle Applestone, a materials scientist and entrepreneur, set out to make precision milling more accessible. She co-founded Other Machine Co. (now Bantam Tools), a leading manufacturer of high-precision desktop CNC milling machines. Raised in rural Arkansas, Applestone developed her skills in her father’s workshop before attending a free STEM boarding school, later earning advanced degrees in chemical engineering from MIT and a PhD in materials science from the University of Texas.
Founded in San Francisco in 2013, the company introduced the Othermill, a compact and user-friendly machine that brought precision milling to individuals and small businesses. Capable of carving intricate designs, PCBs (printed circuit boards), and 3D objects from materials like wood, plastic, and aluminium, the Othermill provides engineers, designers, and innovators with a powerful tool for rapid prototyping and fast turnaround times. Also, her research led to several patented battery materials now commercially licensed.
5. Bio-based Vegan Leather – Uyen Tran
With climate change accelerating, the need for innovative and sustainable materials has never been greater. Traditional leather production is not only linked to animal cruelty but also contributes to environmental degradation. Recognizing the urgency of change, Vietnamese designer Uyen Tran developed TômTex, a flexible bio-material designed as a sustainable alternative to leather. Made entirely from food waste, TômTex can be embossed with various patterns to mimic animal leather.
The name “tôm,” meaning shrimp, reflects its key ingredient—discarded seafood shells, such as shrimp, crab, and lobster shells, along with fish scales. These are processed to extract chitin, a biopolymer found in insect and crustacean exoskeletons, giving the material both strength and flexibility. To further enhance its properties, Tran incorporates waste coffee grounds sourced from her kitchen and local cafés. TômTex naturally biodegrades within months in landfills, leaving no harmful residue and even serving as a plant fertiliser, reinforcing its eco-friendly design.
6. First Silent Wearable Breast Pump- Tania Boler
While we advocate for gender equality, motherhood often sets women back professionally, particularly when caring for infants who rely on breastfeeding. Tania Boler, founder of Elvie, is transforming women’s health with innovative maternal products designed to support and empower mothers. Her groundbreaking invention, the Elvie Pump, is the world’s first silent, wearable breast pump, enabling women to express milk discreetly anytime, anywhere.
By seamlessly integrating technology with real-life needs, Boler is addressing long-overlooked challenges in women’s health, ensuring that breastfeeding and motherhood are supported rather than seen as professional setbacks. Boler recognized the lack of tech-driven solutions for women when she became pregnant, inspiring her to create a company that prioritizes empathy and functionality—normalizing conversations around womanhood and breaking societal taboos. By championing such advancements, Elvie is driving progress in women’s health and accelerating action towards gender equality.
7. Laser Cataract Surgery Device – Dr Patricia Bath
Cataract surgery has long been a complex procedure that demands precision, and over time, advancements in surgical techniques have provided physicians with reliable methods to remove cataracts and restore clearer vision for patients. Dr Patricia Bath, an American ophthalmologist and humanitarian, was one of the most notable figures behind these innovations. She was the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology and the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent.
Dr Bath’s most significant contribution was the invention of the Laserphaco Probe in 1993, a device that revolutionized cataract surgery. Before its development, the procedure was more complicated and carried higher risks. Her invention made surgery faster, more precise, and less invasive, and this breakthrough transformed the field of ophthalmology, making cataract treatment more accessible and enhancing vision care for millions of people around the world.
As we celebrate these trailblazers, International Women’s Day 2025 serves as a vital moment to honor progress, recognize ongoing challenges, and reaffirm our commitment to gender equality. This year’s theme ‘Accelerate Action, ’ calls for action to break barriers and create an inclusive future. According to the UN, empowering young women and girls as future change-makers is key to sustaining this movement and building a truly equitable world.
The post Women’s Day 2025: Accelerate Action Through Women-Led Innovations first appeared on Yanko Design.
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