This Women’s History Month, we asked our community to share stories of the women who have inspired them. The response was incredible: heartfelt, thoughtful, and deeply personal. Over the month of March, we’ll be featuring five remarkable women, one new story each week, highlighting their courage, compassion, and impact.
These stories remind us that inspiration comes in many forms; from mentors, friends, leaders, and everyday heroes, and that the women who shape our lives often do so quietly, without seeking recognition.
Read on to discover the first story, and check back each Sunday for the next inspiring feature.
Meet Joy Collins
Nominated by her friend, Caroline.
Pictured above (from L-R): Caroline, Joy.
"As soon as I opened this email, one name came to mind immediately — Joy Collins. I didn’t hesitate. I knew I had to nominate her.
Joy is the co-founder and President of Fauna Haven Animal Sanctuary in central Virginia, and she is one of the most selfless women I know. She is a devoted mother of two, a full-time real estate professional, and yet somehow still pours nearly all of her spare time into rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing lifelong sanctuary to animals who have endured unimaginable neglect.
What makes Joy extraordinary is that she does this work quietly. She never seeks recognition. She doesn’t tell her story loudly. She simply sees suffering and responds with action. Animals arrive at Fauna Haven from some of the worst conditions — starvation, confinement, and medical neglect — and under Joy’s care, they are given safety, dignity, and a forever home.
Many of them would not have survived without her saying “yes.” Her compassion extends beyond the animals she rescues. She is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and protecting the surrounding wildlife and land.
She also believes that compassion must be cultivated in the next generation. Through educational field trips with local elementary schools, she invites children into the sanctuary to learn about humane care, responsibility, and kindness.
She is not just saving lives today — she is shaping a more compassionate future. I volunteer at the sanctuary she leads, and through that work, she has become both a mentor and a dear friend.
I have witnessed firsthand the long days, the difficult decisions, the emotional weight, and the commitment it takes to do this work. Joy carries it all with strength and humility. She would never nominate herself. She would never ask for recognition. That is exactly why she deserves it. Joy Collins is the woman who inspires me, not because she seeks the spotlight, but because she chooses compassion, over and over again, when no one is watching."
— Caroline
Click here to learn more about Fauna Haven Animal Sanctuary.
Meet Eva Lau
Nominated by her daughter, Naomi.
Pictured above: Eva with her daughters Peony and Naomi.
"My mom grew up quite underprivileged in the outskirts of Hong Kong. She went through a lot, including, immigrating to Canada on her own at 16, losing her dad at age 20, and having to step up to be the primary breadwinner and caregiver of her family following his death.
She knew she had to "make it" in life, as her mom had no education past high school and her sister was quite young.
Pictured above: Naomi with Eva at her MBA graduation.
She pushed through and completed her master's degree while I was just 3 years old. A couple of years later, she became a founding team member of Wattpad, helping build it from the ground up into a global storytelling platform that was able to connect people from all over the world.
While building Wattpad, she also started her own Venture Capital firm, to use the knowledge she gained from building something from the ground up, to help new entrepreneurs change the world. Now, she is proud to support founders that specifically want to make the world a more efficient and environmentally sustainable place. She built something extraordinary out of very little. She continues to inspire me everyday because of it."
— Naomi
Meet Estela
Nominated by her sister, Ernestina.
Pictured above: Estela.
"My little sister, my hero. At 52, she ushered her last child into adulthood this year. As a single mom and first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrant field workers, she graduated from college while working both part-time and full-time as a teacher's aide and substitute elementary teacher, all while raising three children over the last 34 years.
She has been rooted in the same community and has dedicated her career and life's journey to service in many forms: as a devoted mother, sister, daughter, community liaison, and elementary teacher.
She has influenced nearly three generations of children, some now adults, and two generations of college graduates who pursued higher education because of her encouragement. Many still know and love her as Ms. Bustamante in that same Central Valley community in California.
Even now, she continues to serve there. Her faithfulness and loyalty to a rural, impoverished community of high-risk children was her motivation to become a solid fixture of a model to those she loves and inspires.
In a society that often chases higher wages and big-city opportunities, my sister stayed. She etched out a life of building community with continuity and bonding. A scarce commodity in this fast moving world. I applaud her for valuing being planted for the sake of others. Her choice has created a safe space of confidence and trust that only comes with time and devotion.
Love you, Estela. My hero"
— Ernestina
Meet Carla
Nominated by her niece, Molly.
Pictured above: Molly and Carla.
"My aunt Carla is a truly inspiring and inventive woman and artist. She is a small business owner and creator of Clards: greeting cards crafted from compostable European dish sponges.
Her dedication to her work and the planet is amazing. She's on a mission to reduce paper towel waste by way of her very sweet greeting cards. They offer a way for people to share their love with each other while tending to the earth; a beautiful gift from her huge heart! In addition to running her small business, she's a very caring mother to her two grown kids and likes to call me her third child —I'll gladly claim the title! I feel so lucky to have her in my life."
— Molly
Click here to shop Clards.
Meet Robyn
Nominated by her mom, Judy.
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