A Milwaukee startup that serves as an online community and resource for "womxn" empowerment has gained support from some of the region's most influential professionals.
Just A Girl, founded by Kirsten Helgeson, developed a digital platform designed to foster information on supporting womxn achievements, along with online resources and programming for self care, community improvement and mental health through training, classes and consulting. The "x" in womxn is the reclaimed, inclusive version of woman, Helgeson said, adding "it signifies inclusivity of trans and non-binary people, demonstrating that all identities under the 'woman' banner are welcomed and celebrated."
This week Helgeson announced the 37 women who will serve on Just A Girl's inaugural inclusivity advisory board, which include previous Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 honorees Irissol Arce from Northwestern Mutual, Nadiyah Johnson of GE Healthcare and founder of Jet Constellations, and Isioma Nwabuzor of Baird.
Other board members from Milwaukee include Jackie Hermes, CEO of Accelity Marketing and co-founder of Women's Entrepreneurship Week MKE, and Claire Fiona, co-founder of Milwaukee agricultural technology company Agricycle Global.
The 37 board members are living on four different continents and represent various industries and backgrounds.
"We're at the beginning and of an equity and inclusion revolution, hundreds of years in the making," Helgeson said. "These challenging times call each of us to break down the systems of patriarchy, privilege and oppression around us. They call us to create new ways of thinking, collaborating and creating. At Just A Girl, we're leaning into the discomfort of change and using it as a tool to build a better world for everyone."
