Gemma Allen

New York

Contributor at Forbes

Living in BK, made in Cork. Mam of 2 future trailblazers 🐥🐣optimist and lover of a good old fashioned chit chat. Penning some thoughts for @nasdaq & @forbes

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Articles

Pope Francis’ Legacy To Women In The Catholic Church: A Platform, Not A Pulpit

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

As the world mourns Pope Francis, who died yesterday at 88, his legacy takes shape, not as a revolution but as a quiet recalibration of norms. This is particularly true of his treatment of women within the Catholic Church, where his papacy will not be remembered by sweeping reform but by something subtler: a deliberate rebalancing. Since his election in 2013, Francis never challenged Church doctrine on women. Yet he did something quietly radical in a system long shaped by silence and hierarchy.
From Blastoff To Backlash: Blue Origin’s All-Female Mission Under Fire

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

This week, a 10-minute rocket ride became a multi-day headline. Katy Perry reportedly sang ‘Its a wonderful world,’ Gayle King beamed in zero gravity, and Lauren Sánchez—pilot, philanthropist, and Jeff Bezos’s partner—led Blue Origin’s first all-female crew to the edge of space. Joining them were civil rights advocate Amanda Nguyen, former NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, and artist-entrepreneur Lina Valentina.
Forbes AI 50: 5 Women, One Commonality-The Immigrant Edge

1 month ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

The Forbes 2025 AI 50 list dropped this week, showcasing the world’s most promising private companies in artificial intelligence. It’s a snapshot of where the smartest money and boldest bets are being made, and by extension, a glimpse at those entrusted to shape the future of what is deemed the most consequential technology of our time. But behind the billions in funding and breakthrough technology, one stark reality stands out: this future remains overwhelmingly designed by men.
Cartwheels, coffee and chaos - an Irish mum in New York on parenting through Trump’s America

1 month ago | independent.ie | Gemma Allen

It isn't about one significant change, it’s the slow, steady erosion of certaintySince Donald Trump returned to office in January, the ripple effects have been felt around the globe. In New York, they don’t necessarily arrive as major headlines or sweeping legislation, but as subtle shifts in everyday life.
3 Women Reshaping Ireland’s Future: From Injustice To Innovation

1 month ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, Ireland, a nation still navigating the tensions between its traditional Catholic roots and its progressive modern identity, continues to face gender gaps in pay, leadership, and representation. Yet something distinct is happening. In recent years, Irish women have undergone a cultural reckoning, reclaiming space in national narratives, challenging long-held social norms, and refusing to stay silent about the injustices still embedded in daily life.
Sophia Bush’s Union Heritage Takes Aim At The Overlooked 51% Via Chiyo

1 month ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

In an era where investors claim to champion diversity but rarely put capital behind their words, Sophia Bush and Nia Batts’ Union Heritage Capital is putting its money where its mouth is in the women’s health space. Their firm is investing in companies like Chiyo, Irene Liu’s women’s health nutrition platform, to help close a longstanding gap in care and funding.
Is St. Patrick Ireland’s True Hero? How Irish Women Are Reclaiming History

2 months ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

The Other Saint of Ireland: Why Brigid Deserves Her DayGrowing up as an Irish woman, I often wondered why an Romano-British man became Ireland’s enduring global icon, eclipsing nearly every Irish woman in history. Yet every March, millions worldwide eagerly don emerald garb, and take to the streets to celebrate a fifth-century British missionary: St. Patrick.
Reproductive Rights In Post-Roe America: Amanda Zurawski On Activism

2 months ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

Amanda Zurawski is an accidental activist. A tech professional from Texas whose personal medical nightmare thrust her into the national spotlight, Zurawski never intended to become the face of America’s reproductive rights movement.
The million-dollar-plus dress closing the Melbourne Fashion Festival runway

2 months ago | forbes.com.au | Shivaune Field |Rosie Whittaker |Gemma Allen |Molly Bohannon

Published on March 6, 2025 It took nine months for Alin Le’ Kal and his Parisian team to complete the exquisite gown closing the Glam Up Runway show at this year’s PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival. The Swarovski crystal-covered showstopper was shipped back and forth from the French Capital to Melbourne twice, at no small expense.
Anora’s Oscar Sweep: The Anti-Fairytale That Rewrote The Female Ending

2 months ago | forbes.com | Gemma Allen

When Mikey Madison took the stage at last night’s 97th Academy Awards to accept her Best Actress Oscar for 'Anora,’ the industry witnessed something more powerful than another awards ceremony moment. It was a moment of recognition for a new formula of Hollywood love story. One where women’s stories are told through unfiltered experiences rather than the comfortable lens of male fantasy.