Men realize that they have work to do, to pull up women and take ownership on where we are as a society, and that they have work to do to help their female relatives and friends - to give a voice to women, not in a patriarchal way, but in a supportive way. It is all of our jobs to make sure that women's rights are human rights, and that they do have a place at the table, and we all push toward equality.
Julie SmolyanskyI have an opportunity to give a voice to those who have no voice. Even though film production wasn't a bucket list item for my life, what I have been passionate about is creating change and impacting society - especially bringing conversations forward on formerly taboo subjects.
Julie SmolyanskyIt is still harder all around for women to get funding in business and film. There are only a very small group of female unicorns who have the power to tell stories on film. We need to have the courage to push back... all the effort is the work of bravery.
Julie SmolyanskyI do think film can change culture, in a way that reading a story in the New York Times does not.
Julie SmolyanskyThere's a leadership gap in the modern business world. Young professionals need to step up to the challenge.
Julie SmolyanskyDuring the mourning period after my father passed, his friends and colleagues were saying there was no way the business would survive. There was no way that a 27-year-old woman could run a company. I was so pissed that this was a conversation during a mourning period, and that a woman who was educated and working at a high level at the company wasn't considered for leadership. This was my father's life work, something I was completely connected to, and I knew I could take the reins.
Julie SmolyanskyMen realize that they have work to do, to pull up women and take ownership on where we are as a society, and that they have work to do to help their female relatives and friends - to give a voice to women, not in a patriarchal way, but in a supportive way. It is all of our jobs to make sure that women's rights are human rights, and that they do have a place at the table, and we all push toward equality.
Julie Smolyansky