# Celebrating Women’s History Month: From Opening Bell At Nasdaq To Tea With Gloria Steinem By Melissa Gonzalez · Published 2025-03-20 · Updated 2026-03-19 · Retail on MarketScale Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/retail/womens-history-month-inspiring-leaders-industry-trailblazers > A media leader's behind-the-scenes journey through pivotal moments celebrating female entrepreneurship and activism this March ## Key points - A media leader's behind-the-scenes journey through pivotal moments celebrating female entrepreneurship and activism this March Block Field This [Women's History Month](https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month), [Retail Refined's](https://marketscale.com/shows/retail-refined/) host joined [The DealMakeHers](https://thedealmakehers.com/) for a series of transformative moments — from opening and closing the [Nasdaq](https://www.nasdaq.com/) to sharing an intimate tea with trailblazer [Gloria Steinem](https://www.gloriasteinem.com/). Across several days of meaningful conversations and landmark events, we celebrated women's leadership, innovation, and resilience. Here's a recap: ## Opening Nasdaq For International Women's Day Women's groups gathered alongside the Editor-in-Chief of Glamour and the Nasdaq team to ring the Opening Bell, marking the start of Women's History Month on a global stage. The moment was more than ceremonial — it served as a rallying cry for continued advocacy for women in leadership and business. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with changemakers, we honored women who are redefining industries, driving transformation, and shaping groundbreaking innovations. And with them, a clear message emerged: the future of the capital markets shines brighter when women's voices are part of the conversation. > The future of the capital markets shines brighter when women's voices are part of the conversation. ## Deepening The Dialogue **The DealMakeHers** returned to Nasdaq, partnering with Women in Retail to recognize this year's 25 Inspirational Women — all nominated by current members. This annual list celebrates trailblazing leaders across retail, fashion, technology, beauty, wellness, social commerce, and culture. These honorees share a common mission: to drive innovation, lead with purpose, and champion other women leaders. Their influence extends far beyond their companies, helping shape the future of commerce and raising the bar for excellence. A personal highlight was the nomination of **Shea Jensen** by Retail Refined host [Melissa Gonzalez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagonzalezlionesque/). **Jensen**, a past guest on the podcast, brings three decades of retail expertise with leadership roles at **Nordstrom**, **Good American**, **Pressed Juicery**, and now **Urban Outfitters**, where she continues to set new standards in customer experience and retail innovation. You can view the full list of honorees [here](https://www.womeninretail.com/celebrating-excellence-25-inspirational-women-leaders-shaping-the-future-of-commerce/). ## The Work Continues While these events were inspiring, they also served as a reminder: the journey is ongoing, but the momentum is strong. ## Retail Refined Podcast Spotlight: Women Powerhouses In parallel, Retail Refined continues to highlight women who are shaping the future of business and culture. Recent conversations include: - **Urban Outfitters** with **Shea Jensen**, on how the brand is redefining retail for Gen Z and Gen Alpha through bold, forward-thinking strategies. Listen [here](https://marketscale.com/industries/retail/urban-outfitters-is-shaping-the-future-of-retail-with-gen-z-and-gen-alpha-in-mind/). - **True Religion** with **Kristen D'Arcy**, on how the brand is keeping legacy brands culturally relevant and authentic. Listen [here](https://marketscale.com/industries/retail/true-religion-sets-the-bar-for-legacy-brands-seeking-cultural-relevance-and-authentic-connections/). - **Anthropologie** with **Elizabeth Preis**, on blending data and creativity to deliver the brand's signature 'Anthromagic.' Listen [here](https://marketscale.com/industries/podcast-network/retail-refined/anthropologie-anthromagic-data-creativity/). - **Madewell** with **Adrienne Lazarus**, on how data-driven insights are guiding the brand's evolution to meet today's consumer. Listen [here](https://marketscale.com/industries/podcast-network/retail-refined/madewell-data-driven-evolution-todays-consumer/). - **Milani Cosmetics** with **Kelly Sobol**, on how the brand is setting new standards in beauty through inclusivity and innovation. Listen [here](https://marketscale.com/industries/retail/milani-cosmetics-redefines-beauty-standards-with-a-commitment-to-inclusivity-innovation-and-cross-generational-appeal/). Together, these stories echo this month's core message: leadership is about creating space for others, driving change, and redefining what's possible. Tags: 25 Inspirational Women, Gloria Steinem, Melissa Gonzalez, Retail Refined, The DealMakeHers, Women in Retail, women’s history month --- Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/retail/womens-history-month-inspiring-leaders-industry-trailblazers. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt