Meghan Markle, along with many other strong and notable women including Priyanka Chopra and Michelle Obama, are taking part in the Girl Up Leadership Summit, which is taking place from the July 13 to 15.
On Monday, the former First Lady of the USA opened the event on behalf of the Girls Opportunity Alliance with a message to young female leaders and gender equality activist.
And now the Duchess of Sussex, who is currently residing in Los Angeles with husband Prince Harry, has delivered her empowering keynote speech, a first for her since stepping down from royal life.
In her speech, the former star addressed the “young women around the world who aren’t just poised to change the world, but have already begun changing the world”.
Meghan Markle shares a special message with the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit ✨ pic.twitter.com/MRkcz8fqqU
— L. (@duchessmeghn) July 14, 2020
“I want to share something with you,” she said. “It’s that those in the halls and corridors and places of power — from lawmakers and world leaders to executives — all of those people, they depend on you more than you will ever depend on them. And here’s the thing: They know this.
“They know that all of you, at a younger age than any modern comparison, are setting the tone for an equitable humanity. Not figuratively, literally. This is a humanity that desperately needs you. To push it, to push us, forcefully in a more inclusive, more just, and more empathetic direction.”
The Duchess of Sussex went on to encourage those watching and beyond to “keep challenging, keep pushing, make them a little uncomfortable” in order for change to happen.
“Because it’s only in that discomfort that we actually create the conditions to reimagine our standards, our policies, and our leadership; to move towards real representation and meaningful influence over the structures of decision-making and power,” she added.
Meghan noted the force for change to create better communities would be a step-by-step process, but encouraged everyone to look at the “big picture”.
Ending her speech on a personal note she said, “I will be cheering you on, so will my husband, so will Archie, as you all continue marching, advocating and leading the way forward.”
