Hope is not naïve — it’s necessary. Women and girls need the UN, and the world needs their leadership to create a more just and sustainable future.
Michelle Milford Vice President for Girls and Women Strategy, United Nations Foundation
As a Lead Partner of the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge, the United Nations Foundation (UNF) continues to champion global cooperation and women’s leadership as essential drivers of sustainable development. In a recent conversation with Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, Michelle Milford Morse, UNF’s Vice President for Girls and Women Strategy, highlighted how the Foundation’s work strengthens progress toward gender equality and advances shared objectives across the SDGs.
Shaped by her Texas roots and inspired by trailblazers like Governor Ann Richards and Barbara Jordan, Milford Morse has built a career dedicated to elevating women’s voices in global policy. Today, she leads the UN Foundation’s work to strengthen cross-sector, global cooperation on issues such as gender‑based violence, climate change, and health inequities — priorities that closely align with WE Empower’s mission to honor and invest in women leaders driving sustainable change.
Milford Morse emphasized the transformative power of women’s leadership and the importance of engaging young people in shaping durable, community‑centered solutions. She also underscored the UN’s role in establishing global norms that protect women’s rights and create pathways for collective action. Her message reflects the shared commitment of the UN Foundation and the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge to ignite global awareness of the contributions women entrepreneurs make, and the obstacles they continue to face.
She closed with a call to action, urging stakeholders to champion gender equality, support global cooperation, and help build a future where women and girls everywhere can thrive.
Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AIQe8eiHbA&t=3s
By Liz A. Dorn, Senior Research Project Consultant