Celebrating International Women's Day
This International Women’s Day, six women we admire reflect on the women who shaped them and how they uplift others today.
The way we see the world rarely begins with us.
It’s shaped by the women who came before, the ones who showed us where to look, how to notice the light, and how to carry both softness and strength.
At Eddy, so much of what we create is touched by that influence.
This International Women’s Day, we asked five women we admire in the creative space to reflect on the women who shaped them, the ways they uplift others now, and the moments that helped them find their voice.
Avery Carpenter Forrey | Author
Who shaped the way you see the world, and yourself, as a woman?
Is it so cliché to say my mom? She's an original, though. My mom has a sense of play grounded in practicality, a genuine curiosity about other people tempered by strong self-knowledge. Her ears are incredible—she picks up delicious lines like they’re dust bunnies swirling in the air of a restaurant. Lucky me that I can include them in books! She lights up the people around her, sometimes literally—when I went to sleepaway camp, she’d send glow necklaces for the whole camp, and she was always the one backstage fixing our costumes and doing makeup for school plays. My mom left her job when my sisters and I were young, and she’s since expressed some regret that she didn’t continue working outside the home (her admissions of regret are, admirably, often framed as curiosity i.e. what would that have been like?). There weren’t flexible, remote, or entrepreneurial opportunities for women in the same way there are now. I’ve assured her that creating a magical childhood for us was deeply creative work in its own right.
How do you carry that influence forward?
Well, I need to step up my holiday tradition game. I’m learning that it’s less about the Instagrammable moments and more about the fleeting look of delight on a kid’s face, those cracked open smiles that inevitably disappear the moment you pull out the camera. Proud moment: I made the viral snow ice cream with my 3-year-old during one of our 500 blizzards in CT this winter...and I didn’t blast it out on social media. Of course I’m talking about it now, which defeats the pride in my restraint, but oh well. We contain multitudes! I’m still figuring out how to marry creativity in parenting with creativity in writing. Both pursuits make me feel rawer to the world, scattered and harried in a way my mom was not. Then again, maybe she was also a mess and I was too busy being delighted to notice.
What experiences strengthened your voice in the creative space?
Naming my desires, naming my work in progress. For years, I wanted to write a novel and didn’t admit it. I was scared the process would be too hard and too prone to failure. I wrote professionally, as a writer and editor at theSkimm, and loved my job. It seemed futile to extend that further. Cowriting a book for theSkimm gave me confidence that I could finish a book-length project. With confidence comes play and experimentation, and I started honing the voice for Social Engagement and letting the story unfurl with less fear of judgment. You’re catching me at a weird time, tbh—I’m working on my second novel and slowly combing through a major revision, bigger than anything I’ve attempted so far. It’s good to revisit those delusional feelings of self-belief I had when setting out on this whole trip!
Follow @averycarpenterforrey | averycarpenterforrey.com | Bookshop link to buy the book
Lauren Lynch | Blogger & Entrepreneur
Who shaped the way you see the world, and yourself, as a woman?
My mother. A goddess of a woman called Trudie. She taught me to be open and curious, in life but particulalry with art in all its forms. At a young age, she forced me into museums and encouraged reading and creative thinking at home. My mother also never let me give up, she helped me discover my talents, worked with me to find outlets to nurture them and supported me when I thought about quitting. I credit my perseverance to her.
Since I was very young, dance and horses have been the two things that kept my soul whole. Two women were integral to my love of and success in each discipline: My first horseback riding instructor, Tiffany, an intensely red-headed, horse-whispering-woman who changed my life and taught me how to respect and ride horses. And Tessie, one of the best dance instructors I've ever had. The woman was tough and honest, showing me that one succeeds by being diligent and showing up - every, single day.
How do you carry that influence forward?
The smallest things make an outsized difference in your daily life. I refuse to quit when life becomes overwhelming or, seemingly, too much to bear. I find resolve in the lessons each of these women taught me: be open, respectful and diligent, and if all else fails, go back to the basics. I try to embody these lessons as a leader, colleague, mother, partner and friend.
What experiences strengthened your voice in the creative space?
Today, I run a couple of businesses: a services agency that consults on fashion production and brand operations and a home textiles brand. I also write a newsletter about art, history and fashion in the 18th century and today. To be transparent, my businesses have only just started working, aka making money. I finally found entrepreneurial momentum because of countless rejections. All those dead ends forced me to find and test creative ways to pitch myself, market my products and connect with interesting and influential people. Eventually, people began to respond positively, and the no's turned to yes's.
Follow @lolynchwemple | Newsletter 21st & 18th | Shop at jgraybrand.com
Helen Robinson | Artist
Who shaped the way you see the world, and yourself, as a woman?
My mom of course. She taught me how to be self-sufficient and independent, nurturing and thoughtful of others, and wildly creative and imaginative in whatever I’m doing. She gives 110% of herself to whatever she is doing. She drives an ambulance as an EMT, she is the handyman in her household, and she can create the most theatrical obstacle course for her grandchildren dressed in a full princess outfit. She taught me to work hard at whatever I’m doing but also have fun doing it.
How do you carry that influence forward?
I try to mother my own two children the way she did for me and apply that same philosophy to the way I work. I try to honor her ability to embrace childlike wonder while doing a million other things. To be productive and work hard while seeing the magic in everything.
What experiences strengthened your voice in the creative space?
I don’t think I could pick just one or even a handful. Every failure, accomplishment, and the consistent choice to show up and hone my craft has strengthened my voice over the years. Everytime I get in front of my easel it validates that I am where I’m meant to be.
Follow @helenrobinsonart | www.helenrobinsonart.com
Valerie Strenk | Wedding Planner & Designer
Who shaped the way you see the world, and yourself, as a woman?
Working in the wedding industry as a planner and designer, I have the privilege of constantly being surrounded by women who carry so many titles beyond just their jobs. Wives, mothers, mentors, creatives, dreamers and more …. they are multi-faceted, kind hearted and simply inspiring. To have a front row seat to so many female entrepreneurs, and the magic they create, continues to shape my outlook as a small business owner, and how I show up in this space.
How do you carry that influence forward?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my journey, it's that kindness always wins and rising tides lift all boats. I am forever grateful to the women who pulled up a seat at the table for me, when there wasn’t one for me, and encouraged me to push the boundaries of my own creativity. Every woman deserves to be seen, loved and valued, and I aim to bring that type of energy in my daily interactions.
What experiences strengthened your voice in the creative space?
Time has been the biggest contributor to helping me refine my craft and confidently present it to the world. Every slow season, rejected proposal and mistake has always been matched by something more promising and more aligned for me than I could have even imagined. If it were all easy, then you wouldn’t ever have the joy of seeing the sun after a storm. Am I for everyone? No. And that’s ok! But when you find the right client that truly gets what you do, a beautiful story is written. To see your ideas crystalize into realities, and the emotions it evokes in people during some of life’s biggest moments, is a true gift. I simply love what I do, and it only gets better with time.
Follow @lbvdesignhouse | lbvdesignhouse.com
Ally Chen | Content Creator
Who shaped the way you see the world, and yourself, as a woman?
My mom shaped so much of how I see the world. She immigrated to San Francisco in her 30s and completely rebuilt her life here. At the time, China had a strict One-Child policy, so I feel incredibly lucky that she made the brave decision to start over and have me. Growing up, she sewed many of my clothes herself. Watching her create something beautiful with her hands sparked my love for fashion and design very early on. Even now, she continues to support me in big and small ways, and I carry that gratitude with me every day.
How do you carry that influence forward?
My mom taught me that creativity does not depend on having a lot, even when things were simple, she always found ways to make life feel special. She noticed beauty in everyday moments and showed me how to do the same. I try to bring that spirit into everything I share, whether it is fashion or storytelling.
What experiences strengthened your voice in the creative space?
Over time I realized that creativity becomes stronger when it is rooted in authenticity. Sharing my unique perspective, my Chinese American background, and the things that genuinely inspire me helped me feel more confident in my voice. Connecting with other women and creatives who are also building something of their own has been especially meaningful.
Follow @fashionbyally on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Gabe Bratton Hall | Jewelry Designer
Who shaped the way you see the world, and yourself, as a woman?
My parents definitely played an important role in shaping the way I see the world, and myself. It wasn’t by way of preaching any particular outlook, but rather nurturing a confidence to move through thoughts, ideas and questions as I had them. From a young age, they championed my curiosity and encouraged me to pursue my passions. When I took up sewing my own clothes in middle school, they restored the old sewing machine my grandmother had given me. When I began making and selling jewelry as a highschooler, they took me to the bank to open a debit account. When I decided to apply to art schools, and eventually a metal-smithing program in college, they stood behind me wholeheartedly. My mom is a strong boss of a woman - she has modeled how to navigate life with grace and grit. Seeing my dad’s admiration and respect for her really emphasized the power of a strong woman, and also a strong partnership. They’ve given me the gift of exploring the world with an open mind, a belief in myself and an appreciation for the experience.
How do you carry that influence forward?
I strive to create a similar space for my own family – allowing my children to be fully themselves and nurturing their pure sense of wonder. I try to follow their leads in exploring new curiosities and interests, welcoming their questions and the moments I get to learn alongside them, as well as from them. While I didn’t grow up in San Francisco, I have so much appreciation for the strong sense of community I’ve found here, one that welcomes individuality and curiosity. There is no ‘one way’ to do things or limits on what can be achieved. Being here for ten years now, it is my favorite thing to welcome new people and see them experience the spirit of this city. Getting to raise my family here is really a dream come true.
What experiences strengthened your voice in the creative space?
The support of my family has been paramount throughout my creative pursuits. I’m the middle of three kids, and while we’re all pretty different, we remain each other's biggest cheerleaders. Knowing they’re in my corner has provided me with a helpful bit of reassurance as I navigate all that comes of the creative world, and pushed me to take chances on myself. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet and work with a number of women in this space – our PR team, our bookkeepers, our bench jeweler, the creative women we have shared work space with or collaborated with – who have been incredible sources of inspiration and community. Working alongside or just watching women thrive in their respective endeavors is empowering. As I’ve become a mother, I’m so grateful to be able to look towards so many other women in the space who are also in the throes of it while also running a business. . Being able to relate to and lean on one another has truly been invaluable.
Follow @gabriellejewelry| gabriellejewelry.com| Shop in SF at 3356 Sacramento Street
