Becoming a mother gave Olympic champion Allyson Felix an even bigger purpose for her athletic career. A winner of 11 Olympic medals, Allyson is known for her discipline, speed, and outstanding performance. Motherhood expanded her life and made her even more of a champion: an advocate for women athletes who believes no woman needs to choose between her sports career and family.

Motherhood gave Kellie Gerardi her most meaningful mission. One of the first 100 women in history to fly to space, Kellie is a research astronaut, science communicator, and mom of two daughters. Becoming a mom didn’t clip her wings, but motivated her to keep pushing boundaries with an even deeper sense of purpose—and inspire her daughters and other moms to shoot for the stars.

Be brave, not perfect. Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and CEO of Moms First, continues to encourage girls and women to be brave. She also advocates for working families and women and girls’ economic empowerment. When she became a mother, she didn’t have to choose between her activism and her children. Instead, she saw the expansion of who she is and what she does.