In honor of the countless women who achieved significant milestones in 2020, The Association of Junior Leagues International is launching a new social media campaign. Starting now and culminating on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2021), the series focuses on women who shattered the glass ceiling in 2020, are leaders who exemplify our organization’s values and who actively pave the way forward for young women and girls. Below are some of the women featured in the
series:

Kathryn M. Farmer

We begin our series with a celebration of Kathryn M. Farmer who, on January 1, 2021, will become the first woman President and Chief Executive Officer of a Class I railroad in the 200-year old history of North American railroads. Farmer will also assume leadership of
BNSF Railway’s Board of Directors. A member of the Junior League Fort Worth since 1998,we are proud that Kathryn is being recognized for her proven leadership at BNSF and in the Fort Worth community.

Sydney Barber

Sydney Barber is the first Black woman to lead 4,400 of her peers at the U.S. Naval Academy for the first time in the institution’s 175-year history. As brigade commander, 21-year old midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber will assume the highest leadership position within the student body, overseeing the day-to-day activities and professional training of her fellow midshipmen. Although women have been studying at the nation’s service academies since 1976, the appointment of Black women to the highest cadet and midshipman leadership roles has happened only recently. Barber will take over the position next semester. Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/…/sydney-barber-navy-brigade.html

Kimberly J. NG

“After decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,” Ng said in a statement. “When I got into this business, it seemed unlikely a woman would lead a major league team, but I am dogged in the pursuit of my goals. My goal is now to bring
championship baseball to Miami.”Congratulations to Kimberly J. Ng who is making history as the first female general manager on a major league baseball team and on any of the major men’s sports leagues in North America. Ng is also the second Asian American to run on-field operations for an MLB team.Learn more about Kim Ng: https://www.washingtonpost.com/…/kim-ng-miami-marlins…/

Gitanjali Rao

Meet Gitanjali Rao, a Colorado teenager who has been named Time’s “Kid of the Year” for 2020. Rao received this honor for her invention of a mobile device to test for lead in drinking water, and she was also named last year to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Many Junior Leagues are dedicated to getting young women involved in STEM and we hope that
Gitanjali serves as an inspiration!Read more about this glass-ceiling shattering young woman: https://www.npr.org/…/time-names-its-kid-of-the-year…