LUIZA LOUBACK
BRAZIL, 18
She/Her
Project: Lidere-se
As a young woman in Brazil, Luiza rarely felt represented by her leaders, nor did she believe she could achieve a leadership position. As she witnessed gender-based violence and discrimination all around her, she grew a deep yearning to fight for women’s empowerment. In July 2020, Luiza co-created Lidere-se to build a generation of female leaders in Brazil. Lidere-se is committed to the holistic development of Brazilian girls, offering them entrepreneurship and leadership bootcamps, psychological counseling, internships, scholarships, language courses, and the opportunity to study abroad and compete in scientific Olympiads. Lidere-se has also built a network of female educators, politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, and activists, who lead workshops and act as one-on-one mentors for girls interested in their respective fields. Lidere-se has impacted 1500+ girls in 15+ Brazilian states, and their Ambassador Program allows alumni to continue expanding and adapting their programs in their own communities. In 2021, Lidere-se was a finalist for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award and granted funding from the U.S. Embassy and the With and For Girls Collective. Luiza recently partnered with 30 purpose-driven institutions worldwide, including the Latin American Leadership Academy and Brazilian Departments of Education to integrate Lidere-se programs into public schools across Brazil. She is also planning their first National Conference for Gender Equality, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in July 2022. Luiza decided to be the leader of her own story and will continue empowering other girls to do the same.