In celebration of Women’s History Month, North Gwinnett Voice staff member Denise Rumbaugh reached out to women whose accomplishments have been influential and impactful in several areas, including education, politics, media and business. She asked each woman about other women throughout history they admire, the most influential women in their own lives, advice they would share with women and girls on achieving their own goals and dreams and the importance of celebrating women’s history. The NGV has compiled their responses in celebration of Women’s History Month and in honor of these incredible women leaving their marks.
Ane Mulligan is a best-selling and award-winning novelist who founded the Players Guild at Sugar Hill.
Denise Rumbaugh: Is there any particular woman or are there women in history you admire? What do you admire about her or them?
Ane Mulligan: I admire Hedy Lamarr, mostly known for being an actress. However, during WWII, she co-invented a device that helped make possible the development of GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi technology.
DR: Who has been the most influential woman in your life and why?
AM: The most influential woman in my life was my adopted mother. She instilled a love of reading and theatre in me. I am who I am today because of her.
DR: What advice would you share with women and girls on working to achieve their goals and dreams?
AM: My advice to young women today would be to keep striving for your dreams and enjoy the journey along the way. It took me 12 long years to get a traditional book contract, but the people I met and the relationships that developed were worth the wait.
DR: What do you think is the importance of celebrating women’s history?
AM: There are so many women whose contributions and influence are little known. It’s important and encouraging for younger women to learn about them. After all, if they could do it, so can you.
