Daily Inspiration: Meet Cindy Chen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Chen.

Hi Cindy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up, I was always called “bossy” just for taking initiative or “sensitive” just for expressing emotion—but boys around me were praised for being “assertive” and “leaders.” Those labels made me retreat and question myself. But eventually I realized that the moments that made me feel small—being dismissed or underestimated—were exactly why I needed to speak up. That anger and frustration turned into action, and ultimately, that’s what pushed me to create IgniteHER: a space where girls could turn those labels into leadership.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
At the beginning, it was one day at a time. I didn’t sit down with a week-by-week plan for how the next three years would play out—I just knew the mission mattered. Over time, we built more structure: a board of directors, regional chapter leads, and strategic campaigns. It’s been a challenge. We’ve grown into 100+ chapters with membership 66 countries, which means coordinating across time zones and languages can be overwhelming. But my team and I are committed to personal connection—whether it’s one-on-one calls, late-night planning sessions, or simply showing up consistently. Our growth hasn’t been easy, but it’s been sustained because of shared passion and the willingness to put in the work. But in truth, the heart of IgniteHER has always been rooted in adaptability. We listen to what girls on the ground need, we hear their voices, and we shape our projects around that. We always aim to put marginalized voices and true, lived experience at the front of our advocacy.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a youth organizer, policy advocate, and founder dedicated to making gender equity and civic participation accessible—especially for girls and students from under-resourced communities. I specialize in building large-scale, youth-led initiatives that turn complex issues like gender justice, civic education, and public policy into movements that feel tangible and empowering.

I’m best known for founding the IgniteHER Project, which has grown into a global network of 100+ chapters across 66+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. Through our campaigns, education programs, and international partnerships, we’ve reached over three million people worldwide, mobilized more than 50,000 young activists, and provided leadership training to 3,000+ girls. We also run community aid efforts—like our Uganda menstrual health campaign—which recently supported 1,127 women and girls with essential products and will anchor a December regional health camp.

Beyond IgniteHER, I serve as the sole youth Global Goals Ambassador for SDG 5: Gender Equality with the UNA-USA’s 20,000+ member network. In that role, I help integrate youth perspectives into national-level UN programming and co-lead gender justice events with partners such as UNESCO, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and global youth coalitions.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
One of the biggest risks was actually launching the IgniteHER Project at 15, with no money, no institutional backing, and no idea whether anyone would take a youth-led movement seriously. I started it in my bedroom during a period where I felt powerless, and it was a risk both emotionally and practically. I was putting my voice—and my lived experiences—into the world in a very public way. But that leap turned into a huge network of young feminists, policy collaborations with UN agencies, and programs that have reached over three million people. That risk taught me that you don’t wait to be “ready”; movements happen because someone starts them before the conditions are perfect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://igniteherproject.org
• Instagram: @igniteherproject
• LinkedIn: IgniteHER Project