In this first Reflections of Season 6, Stephanie Fortunato looks back on the curatorial choices that shaped our 2025 season. Reflecting on a year that deliberately centred women and non-binary leaders, she considers what the data on gender inequality tells us, why progress cannot be taken for granted, and how storytelling can help expand our collective imagination of leadership, belonging, and cultural power.

External references:

• The Reykjavík Index for Leadership: background and latest findings for the index referenced in the episode, measuring perceptions of women’s suitability for leadership across 23 sectors (including generational differences).
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg on “When there are nine”: Clip/source for the quote Stephanie references about representation on the US Supreme Court.

About our Contributor

Stephanie Fortunato is Director of Special Projects of the Global Cultural Districts Network. Her expertise sits at the intersection of cultural planning and urban development, collaborating with local communities on creating policies and partnerships to strengthen neighbourhoods and transform public spaces. +