Sophie is a Globally Recognized Speaker and Activist

She speaks with students at the middle school, high school, and university level and presents at conferences, companies, and organizations on topics related to gender justice, activism, digital wellness, and mental health.

Any of Sophie’s talks can be tailored to a virtual event.

Sophie’s Signature Keynote

  • Influencing social change is at our fingertips. New technologies allow us to make meaningful connections online, combat harmful gender norms in innovative ways, and even build global movements. However, there are significant risks associated with online activism. Harassment, tech-facilitated abuse, toxic gender stereotypes and more are often amplified by new technologies, creating significant mental health issues among young people.

    As an award winning gender justice activist, Sophie helps people create a safer, more just world—on and offline—using art, activism, and technology. She addresses the pros and cons of social media as a tool for social change and empowers audiences to pave their own activist path, while prioritizing their mental health.

    After my talk, audiences will takeaway:

    1. An understanding of the impact of harmful gender norms and stereotypes

    2. An excitement about the ripple effects of small actions to make big change, on and offline.

    3. The ability to identify sustainable vs. burnout actions

    4. A toolkit for overcoming various risks and challenges associated with online activism

    5. The ability to envision a gender just future 

    This talk is perfect for students, employees, and companies that care about gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Sophie’s Educational Talks and Workshops

  • In this talk, Sophie shares her experience starting Catcalls of NYC and its growth into a global movement against street harassment, Chalk Back. Participants walk away with a better understanding of how to take action on gender justice issues in their communities.

  • In this workshop, Sophie engages participants in an interactive conversation about street harassment and leads a story sharing activity. Participants are invited to “Chalk Back” together to raise awareness, educate, and build community.

  • In this workshop, Sophie engages employees in an interactive conversation about harassment in all its forms and leads a story sharing activity. Participants are invited to “Chalk Back” together to raise awareness, educate, and build community. Participants leave the workshop with a better understanding of how to create community and build a culture of accountability. This talk can be tailored to various sized workplaces.

  • In this talk, Sophie gives an introduction to various types of tech-facilitated gender-based violence and associated risks. Participants will learn about resources and tools for responding to online harassment and abuse, and come away with an eagerness for creating safer online community.

  • In this workshop, Sophie will lead participants through different scenarios related to online risks including mis and disinformation, online harassment and abuse. Participants will learn how to create safer communities online, especially while using the online space for activism.

“After people hear me speak they will foster a commitment to gender justice because my story illustrates the power of activism to create a more just, equal world.”

Past Speaking Engagements Include:

Guest Speaker at Lafayette College | Easton, PA October 2024

Guest Speaker at Bard College | Annandale-On-Hudson, NY October 2024

Guest Speaker at #HalfTheStory Digital Civics Academy | Online August 2024

Guest Speaker at University of Maryland | College Park, Maryland April 2024

Guest Speaker at Nightingale High School I New York, NY April 2024

Presenter at AFTER International Conference on Gender Studies and the Culture of Gender | Paris, France March 2024

Guest Speaker at Vital Voices Grassroots Voices Fellowship Session | Online October 2023

Guest Speaker at Colgate University | Hamilton NY, April 2023

Guest Speaker at Penn State University | State Collage, PA April 2023

Guest Speaker at University of Maryland | College Park, Maryland April 2023

Guest Speaker at Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ April 2023

Moderator for UNESCO Panel | Online February 2023

Speaker at Night of Ideas Event with Villa Albertine I Brooklyn, NY May 2022

Guest Speaker at Juilliard University | New York, NY April 2022

Guest Speaker at University of Maryland’s Occupy McKeldin Event Event | College Park, MD April 2022

Guest Speaker at Plymouth University | Online April 2022

Guest Speaker at Greenspire Highschool | Online April 2022

Keynote Speaker at George Washington University SASA event | Online April 2022

Guest Speaker at Montclair State University | Montclair, NJ April 2022

Panelist for SafeCity Webinar Discussion | Online March 2022

Speaker at GLG’s Women+ Employee Resource Group | Online March 2022

Panelist at University of Michigan’s He for She Webinar | Online March 2022

Guest Lecturer at Penn State | Online February 2022

Keynote Speaker at the BeWithGirls Conference | Online December 2021

Guest Speaker at Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, OK November 2021

Webinar Speaker for Salesian College in West Bengal | Online November 2021

Panelist on Activism, Movement Building & the Private Sector with Victoria Secret X Vital Voices I Online October 2021

Panelist for GirlsCongress Philippines “Girl Make the First Move!” | Online October 2021

Anti Harassment Workshop at NYU Liberal Studies | New York, NY September 2021

Keynote Speaker at GirlUp Spring Summit | Online May 2021

Panelist at UN Women Turkey Roundtable Event | Online May 2021

Guest Speaker at University of Plymouth | Online May 2021

Guest Speaker at Lower East Side Girls Club | Online May 2021

Guest Speaker at University of Maryland Occupy McKeldin Event | Online April 2021

Guest Speaker at Stuyvesant High School | Online January 2021

Speaker and Moderator for Novelly’s Courages Webinar | Online December 2020

Panelist for Cambridge University Newnham College Politics and Debating Society I Online November 2020

Guest Speaker at The Churchill School | Online November 2020

Keynote Speaker at InHerShoes Summit | Online November 2020

Guest Speaker at Juilliard’s Diversity Day | Online October 2020

Panelist at UN Girl’s Education Initiative Real Talk on Gender-Based Violence | Online October 2020

Guest Speaker at The Laurel High School | Online June 2020

Anti-Harassment Workshop Facilitator at Bergen Tech High School | Bergen, NJ March 2020

Guest Speaker at Riverdale Middle School | Bronx, NY January 2020

Anti-Harassment Roundtable Facilitator at Fieldston High School | Bronx, NY December 2019

Speaker at UNESCO's World Cities Day | Paris, France November 2019

Speaker and Awardee at UNESCO's Media Information and Literacy Conference | Gothenburg, Sweden September 2019

Panelist at Plan International's Youth Leadership Academy | Washington, DC June 2019

Speaker for YouthBridge Munich | New York, NY April 2019

Guest Speaker at Barnard College I New York, NY April 2019

Panelist "#MeToo: Building an Ethical Future" | Pratt University Brooklyn NY March 2019

Anti Harassment Workshop Facilitator | Juilliard University New York NY March 2019

Impact

Video credit: People Fixing the World, BBC World Service