Women Leader Wednesday

For this Women Leader Wednesday, we feature Susannah Stokes Mazzoni, a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. She overcame a lot of diversity to be a standout among her peers, an educator and an advocate for women everywhere. Read about her story below!

Susannah knew from the age of four years old that she wanted to be a Marine after seeing her brother graduate from the Marine Corp along with a group of women with their chins up and a unified movement. Throughout her upbringing all she could think about was being a Marine one day, but was surrounded by questions like, “That’s nice, but why don’t you pick something less dangerous?” Despite the lack of encouragement, Susannah graduated from he Basic School in Quantico, Virginia and although she anticipated a camaraderie unlike any other when being deployed, she instead found it hard to connect with the men in her Corps and did not think she would find that fellowship that she always craved, although she could definitely prove herself.

Susannah found empowerment through a group called “Women Give San Diego” and returned to Afghanistan with a new found confidence and assurance in herself that was “capable, talented and valuable to our nation’s war effort.”

“Leaning in has revolutionized the way I view myself—as a leader, as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, as a trailblazer, and, most of all, as a woman.” And we applaud Susannah for being a leader among women that advocates for education, empowerment and confidence in yourself. Read more about Susannah here!