Featured Nominee: Emily May - iHollaback Girl!

Emily believes YOU have the power to end street sexual harassment. So she co-founded iHollaback to give women, girls and LGBTQ individuals the tools to break the silence with the help of mobile technology. 

How does it work?

iHollaback allows victims the chance to upload words and pictures, and to literally indicate on a map, where they experienced harassment in public spaces. Victims can also discuss specific instances on online forums and share experiences. iHollaback then presents collected and mapped data in areas experiencing high incidences to elected officials and policymakers to affect change.

With chapters in 45 cities, 16 countries and 9 languages, iHollaback is quickly spreading its message of empowerment around the world. 

In Emily’s own words:

On Why You Have to Act

“Turning your idea into reality requires guts: you have to be ready to face down some pretty big obstacles. But, if you’re ready – and I mean really ready – those obstacles look like nothing compared to the feeling that, if you don’t act, you’ll be standing in the way of progress.

And when people look at you like you have two heads; when you tell them what you’re doing—you smile. Because you’re too busy thinking about what the world could look like without poverty, climate change – or in my case – street harassment.”

On Managing Your Obsession

“My co-founders and I started Hollaback because we didn’t buy it – and we didn’t think we were alone. When I left my career in the anti-poverty world to become executive director for Hollaback, we had a growing movement, but we had also been turned down for eight grants and two fellowships. We didn’t have a dime in the bank, and bills for our still-in-development iPhone app were mounting.

For the first six months, I shot up out of bed at 6 a.m. and worked straight until midnight. To save money, I ate mostly dried beans. I gained ten pounds. I barely saw my friends – or the light of day. At my worst moments, it was an obsession. At my best, it was a calling.”

On Building a Movement

“Leadership is tricky, because you have to be willing to do it alone. But if you’re doing it alone for long, you’re doing it all wrong. Building a movement requires creating real opportunities for people to lead.

If you expect someone to be a traditional “follower,” you’re missing the point. Followers are the new leaders: there are a ton of people out there who are just waiting to take a good idea and run with it - and they will inspire more leaders. And soon, your voice will be part of a chorus of voices. And that’s when you know you’ve succeeded.”

Visit Hollaback for more details.