It's very difficult not to feel completely inadequate when in close proximity to Meena Harris, which is ironic because that exact feeling is what the women's rights activist has worked very hard to surpass with her star-studded Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign.
Don't get us wrong—wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Phenomenal Woman" (or the gender-neutral "Phenomenal Voter" or the proudly ethnocentric "Phenomenally Asian," "Phenomenally Latina," and "Phenomenally Muslim") can do wonders for a person's daily confidence. That the $35 price tag for each tee supports key causes that go to bat for minorities—Girls Who Code, Higher Heights, and Families Belong Together, among others—is just the activist icing on the layer cake of enlightenment and self-worth.
But when coming face to face with Harris's lightning-quick intelligence, bold ambition, and admirable lineage, you quickly realize that she epitomizes the Phenomenal Woman: The niece of presidential favorite Kamala Harris and daughter of Hilary Clinton advisor Maya Harris, Meena has always been surrounded by role models of achievement. She's a Harvard Law School graduate and the current VP of Strategy and Leadership for Uber. Using her smarts, her clout, and her platform, she's put misogynists on notice with her national op-eds calling for male alliance with women—her #1600Men Campaign collected signatures of men in support for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings.
While it's easy to say that Meena is living up to the family name by disrupting the status quo with her progressive ideals, she's likely more focused on forging a legacy that her two young daughters can feel confident to run with. Luckily, Meena is always looking for champions to strengthen her crusade.
So, buy a T-shirt and tune into our latest podcast to get swept up in her social engagement and enthusiasm for personal achievements big and small. // 7x7 Bay Area's People Will Talk is available in iTunes and wherever you get your podcasts.