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Sometimes your heroes are small and the lessons of their legacy unimaginably enormous.

Margaret Atwood, 86, iconic author and truthteller, told a grateful audience at Take The Lead’s  Power Up Conference 2026 on Women’s Equality Day recently in Washington, D.C., that she has always used the tools at her disposal to demonstrate power and utility—including the truth.

Growing up spring, summer and fall in the backwoods of remote, northern Quebec, with her parents, a brother and sister, Atwood said she did not attend school until she was 12.

“I’ve got three chainsaws—big, medium size and a circular saw. You learn to use tools and you learn that girls can really do just about anything,” she said in an onstage conversation with Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead.

In the era of “fake news,” the power of the media to shape our understanding of reality is undeniable. Sexist news coverage is nothing new for women, but in an election year, it’s crucial we remain vigilant and outspoken. In this episode, Gloria urges us to be conscious, careful, and critical about women’s representation in the media and gives us concrete tips for how to recognize and leverage our own power to change the narrative.

By Anita Murphy

I was 12 years old when my father was deported, and overnight our family's resources and circumstances shifted. One day at school, a teacher asked us to raise our hands if we lived in a two-parent or single-parent home. That moment taught me how quickly circumstances outside a child's control can change a family's opportunities, and how easily people make assumptions without knowing the full story. That experience shaped how I lead and my commitment to creating opportunities, building community and seeing people beyond their circumstances.