This Women’s Month, I asked my colleagues at Global Fund for Children to share books, films, and stories about women that stayed with them long after they experienced them. The recommendations they shared are a celebration of compassion, belonging, resilience, identity, and the many ways women show up for themselves and for others. I hope you enjoy exploring them, and that they inspire you as much as they inspired me.

All about love by Bell Hooks (Book)

“To truly serve, we must always empty the ego so that space can exist for us to recognize the needs of others and be capable of fulfilling them. The greater our compassion, the more aware we are of ways to extend ourselves to others to make healing possible”.

“I love this quote because it frames compassion as an intentional practice. It reminds us that caring for others requires humility, awareness, and a willingness to show up, both for collective healing and in confronting systems that cause harm.” — Nasra Ayub, Programs Officer

Thirty names of night by Zeyn Joukhadar (Book)

“I love Thirty names of night by Zeyn Joukhadar. It reminds me that we all are searching for our place in the world and sometimes building your own community is the solution to finding your home.” – Christine Burkhart, Senior Vice President, Development

Dear Mama  (Docuseries)

“Dear Mama is a docuseries about Afeni and Tupac Shakur. Afeni Shakur was a revolutionary, an intellect and a leader in the Black Panther Party. It is a beautiful story about love, political struggle, and the deep bond between a mother and son growing up inside movements for liberation. I loved the series because it shows the fullness of their humanity — not just the fame or the headlines, but the political context, the tenderness between them, and the weight of trying to raise a child while fighting for collective freedom.” – Jessica Oddy, Director of Learning & Evaluation

Maid (a Netflix mini series)

“The series beautifully portrays a young woman’s immense resilience to gain a better life for her and her daughter in the midst of so many challenges including domestic and financial abuse, poverty, intergenerational trauma, and a complete lack of support. As a woman, I felt I was walking alongside the protagonist, cheering her on, crying with and for her when she fell, and ultimately celebrating her hard-won freedom – not a quick win but a grueling journey highlighting profound inner strength that women embody.” – Ashani Ratnayake, Marketing and Communications Manager

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown (Book)

“Braving the Wilderness is one of my favorites. The ideas around belonging, voice, courage, and resisting social pressure resonate so strongly with me. I love Brene’s work generally and her approach to vulnerability especially – she sees it as an asset and a strength, something I try to carry with me every day, in my work as Co-CEO of GFC and as a champion of children and young people everywhere. She calls us to step out of our comfort zone saying “Don’t hide behind the safety of the bunker brave the wilderness and see there is a gathering of people waiting for you” -Hayley Roffey, Co-CEO

Pose (Film)

“Pose highlights the importance of trans women and lesbians in the LGBTQ+ community. It serves as an educational piece for society, highlighting why L is the first letter due to the role that lesbian women played in the AIDS epidemic. The show also takes the idea of what it means to be a woman, instead of being confined by biological sex, but as a societal identity that can be shared by many different types of women.” – Jemimah Olaniyi, Senior Programs Officer

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Book)

“It was one of the first books that made feminism feel clear and personal to me. Even 12 years later, it still feels relevant. In the context of today’s feminist writing, it remains an accessible starting point for thinking about gender, stereotypes, and equality.” – Shivonne Graham, Vice President of Marketing and Communications

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Book)

“Her story is a powerful reminder that courage and conviction can come from very young voices who understand deeply what it is to lose a basic human right such as education. As someone from Pakistan, her advocacy for girls’ education and her refusal to be silenced continues to inspire me and reminds me how transformative women’s leadership can be.” – Kulsoom Khan, Senior Regional Co-Director, Asia & Senior Advisor, People and Strategy

My recommendations is Anne with an E (a Netflix series)

Anne with an E is a story about a young girl whose imagination, curiosity, and strong sense of justice shape the way she moves through the world. Throughout the series, Anne refuses to shrink herself to fit other people’s expectations. Instead, she embraces her individuality and speaks up for what she believes is right. Watching her story unfold reminds me of the power of self-expression, resilience, and the courage to remain unapologetically yourself.

Taken together, these recommendations remind us that stories do far more than entertain. They shape how we see ourselves, how we understand others, and how we imagine what is possible. They invite us to reflect, to feel, and sometimes to act.

And the conversation doesn’t end here. Stories grow richer when they are shared. I invite you to reflect on the stories that have stayed with you, the ones that shifted your perspective, or reminded you of your own strength, and to pass them on.