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Art & Culture

Marie-Josée Kravis is Inspired by Pioneers and Led by Principle

25 Jul '25
By The Shift

Image courtesy of Marie-Josée Kravis

25 Jul '25
By The Shift

Image courtesy of Marie-Josée Kravis

The Shift highlights women’s stories through the lens of impact. It hopes to contextualize history and inspire action.

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Marie-Josée Kravis is a prominent philanthropist and arts leader, serving as Chair of the Museum of Modern Art, and the Sloan Kettering Institute. With a focus on cultural innovation and global collaboration, she has championed the advancement of the arts and science through transformative giving and leadership.

The Shift:

Who are three women that inspire you?

Marie-Josée:

Ada Lovelace-  developed the first algorithm for processing by a machine. A real trailblazer who laid the groundwork for modern computer programming

Rosalind Franklin-  a chemist and X-ray crystallographer who played a central role in understanding the structure of  DNA and RNA. Another trailblazer who was not recognized during her lifetime

Anna Drouin- my late  stay-at-home mother who raised 7 children, she taught me not to think of a glass as half empty or half full but to be happy to have a glass and to fill it myself

The Shift:

In honor of Gloria Steinem’s 90 years of advocacy, what do you believe is her most enduring contribution to women’s empowerment, and how has it inspired your own journey?

Marie-Josée:

I admire how Gloria Steinem’s steadfast pursuit of women’s equality was always in the context of freedom and liberty. She never lectured or tried to impose one path or one view.

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Marie-Josée Kravis is honored as part of The Shift’s “90 Plus One” list, which recognizes influential women shaping contemporary culture. With Gloria Steinem featured on the inaugural print cover, the list pays homage to her 91 years of activism by highlighting a powerhouse community of women shifting culture.