From ‘Scandal’ to solidarity: Bellamy Young on women’s leadership

Sitting in a quiet conference room in a sunlit Austin hotel, Bellamy Young radiates warmth and enthusiasm. It’s International Women’s Day, and just hours before she takes the stage at Female Quotient’s event at SXSW, she’s here to talk about her latest project: “She Leads With Care,” a new podcast amplifying the voices of women worldwide.

Best known for her role as Melody “Mellie” Grant, the fictional first lady-turned-president on ABC’s “Scandal,” Young is no stranger to narratives about women in leadership. But this time, she’s not playing a role — she’s telling real stories, elevating the lived experiences of women tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

While Young may not hold the Oval Office in real life, her work as a CARE ambassador has placed her in rooms where real change happens. “It couldn’t be a more important time for us all to remember what it means to care about each other,” she says.

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