Emily May

President, Co-Founder, And Lead Executive Officer of Right To Be

Under her leadership, the organization has scaled to over 20 cities in 14 countries, and launched HeartMob, Right To Be’s (formerly Hollaback!) platform designed to support people being harassed online, and The People’s Supper, a collaboration to designed to bring people together to repair the fissures in our relationships, heal, and bridge difference. Emily believes that by having each others backs in deep and meaningful ways, we can disrupt cycles of hate and create a world where everyone has the right to feel safe and confident.

Our executive director has also won many awards for her leadership, including the TEDCity 2.0 Prize. In 2014, she was named one of the year’s Mulheres Inspiradoras by Think Olga, and in 2013, one of the Daily Muse’s “50 Fearless Minds Changing the World.” In 2012, she received five awards including one of twelve women to watch in 2012 by the Daily Muse, one of 20 women “leading the way” by the Huffington Post, a “Hero Among Us” in People Magazine, an AOL “Next Maker,” and one of Jezebel’s “25 kick-ass and amazing women we love. In 2011, May was named one of Women’s eNews “21 leaders for the 21st Century”, which was presented by Dan Rather, received the “40 under 40” award from the New Leaders Council, was selected as a Top 10 finalist for the “Young Nonprofit Leaders of the Year” Classy awards, and was named an Ashoka “ChangemakHER” joining such social change makers as Melinda Gates and Fran Drescher. Additionally, and to our utter delight, when feminist icon Gloria Steinem was asked, “What women today inspire you and make you feel that the movement continues?” Her response was, “Emily May of Hollaback! who has empowered women in the street, literally.”

Prior to running Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!), Emily worked in the anti-poverty world as a case manager, political action coordinator, director of development, and most recently, a one-woman research and development team. She has also worked on four political campaigns. Emily has a Master’s Degree in Social Policy from the London School of Economics, is an Ashoka Fellow and a Prime Movers Fellow.