The world may feel heavy at the start of 2022, but this list of change makers has us optimistic for brighter days to come.

Twice a year we release a list of 50 women we see out there making the world a better place. This feature has perhaps never felt as urgent as it does right now, when the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, environmental anxiety, and the long days of winter combine to cast quite a pall. But there is reason to hope and we’re finding it right here, at the hands of leaders, activists, actresses, and more. Without further ado, the February 2022 Badass 50!

5. Elizabeth Gore & Carolyn Rodz

“Every woman with an entrepreneurial spirit should have the opportunity to start her own company,” says Gore, who, alongside Rodz, co-founded Hello Alice, a free platform that helps small businesses launch and grow. When the pandemic hit, they shifted their efforts to support nearly 500,000 entrepreneurs — many of whom are women, people of color, veterans, and from the LGBTQ+ community — with access to vital capital, resources, and networks. “We raised $20 million in small grants to help entrepreneurs survive this difficult time,” adds Rodz. “We’re proud to rally and help save so many incredible businesses along the way.”

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