If the word “gala” only brings to mind The Met this spring, know there is another star-studded, purpose-driven event worth a spot on your radar: the Shiftmakers Gala. Hosted by The Shift (a platform dedicated to amplifying women’s voices) on March 27, the gathering brought together leaders across media, business, fashion, sports, and entertainment for an evening of awards at the Harvard Art Museums following a full day of programming in celebration of Women’s History Month.
The day kicked off with grant announcements supporting emerging founders, setting the tone for a series of conversations centered on women shifting culture. Panels explored everything from cultivating community to the future of women’s health, while fireside conversations brought a more personal lens to the day’s themes.
One of the most-discussed sessions featured Olivia Munn in conversation about her recent health journey and advocacy. While accepting The Strength Award that evening, Olivia reflected on how much her life changed in a short period of time when she became a mother, navigated a breast cancer diagnosis, and supported her own mother through the same illness.
“I became a mother, a cancer patient, and then a daughter to a cancer patient, and that shift was the hardest,” she told the room while sharing how those experiences reshaped her understanding of what it really means to care for someone.
By the time guests transitioned fully into the evening programming, the energy had shifted from reflective to celebratory. The gala—hosted by Lauren Chan—opened with remarks emphasizing the power of collective change, followed by a grounding moment led by Aditi Shah of Peloton that invited the room to pause and take it all in before the awards began.
Among the first major highlights was The Summer I Turned Pretty star Lola Tung accepting the Emerging Voice Award. In a refreshingly candid speech, Lola admitted she initially questioned whether she belonged onstage at all: “I was like, wow, there must be someone more qualified,” she said, adding that she felt “really stressed about what I was going to say” in the moment.
She quickly turned that vulnerability outward, celebrating the people around her. “I’d like to take a moment to recognize the people of my generation,” Lola said. “My generation is inspiring every day… I’m very grateful for the artists around me who continue to create.”
Olympic champion and freestyle skier Eileen Gu followed as one of the night’s most electric speakers, accepting the Trailblazer Award. Rather than focusing only on her record-breaking achievements, Eileen zeroed in on what it actually means to push boundaries.
“For me, courage means daring to try,” she said, recounting a pivotal moment at the Olympics when she attempted a trick no woman had ever landed before. “Even if I don’t land this trick, it’s meaningful because I dared to try… if there’s just one little girl watching, she’ll never doubt her place.”
Olivia Munn’s own speech returned to that thought from a different angle, emphasizing community and survival. Reflecting on the chaos of daily life after treatment, she ended on a note that felt especially resonant in a room full of high-achieving women: a reminder to prioritize health and wellbeing. It was a fitting close to a night centered on change, one that recognized that the work of shifting and shaping culture also requires the strength to keep showing up for it.
