The founder of “SheKnows”, Islah Koren Gates, was born in the United States and spent much of her childhood and teenage years in England. She spent her high school years determined to create a website that could be a resource for teens like herself. When she returned to America, she knew what she wanted to build.
Islah Koren Gates, the Founder of SheKnows, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has dedicated her life to empowering women. Gates founded SheKnows in 2006 as a way to empower women through their knowledge and passions. Today, the site features articles on everything from fashion to health and fitness.
Gates has also been a key player in the nonprofit community. In 2011, she co-founded The Girl Rising Project with singer Miley Cyrus and her mother Tish Cyrus. The project aims to create opportunities for girls around the world by supporting programs that help them access education, achieve economic independence, and defend their rights.
In addition to her work at SheKnows and The Girl Rising Project, Gates is also a venture partner at 500 Startups and a trustee of Index Ventures. She has also served on the boards of directors for OpenAI (a non-profit focused on advancing digital intelligence), Girls Who Code (an organization devoted to inspiring young women who want to become computer scientists), and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Gates is considered one of the most influential female entrepreneurs in the world today. Her dedication to helping other women reach their full potential has made her a respected figure in the business community and beyond.
Why Did She Become a Tech Writer?
SheKnows founder Islah Koren Gates is a trailblazer in the tech world. After working as an accountant and startup executive, she founded SheKnows in 2006 with the goal of providing women with resources and advice on all things tech-related.
Today, SheKnows is one of the world’s leading technology lifestyle brands, with more than 20 million monthly readers and 2 million followers on social media. In addition to its website and magazine, SheKnows also publishes books, offers webinars and workshops, and produces original content for TV, streaming platforms and mobile devices.
But it’s not just about making money for Gates; it’s also about empowering people to achieve their goals. “When I founded SheKnows, I wanted to change the way women thought about technology,” she says. “I wanted them to be able to use it in their life for empowerment—not just for work or entertainment.”
And that mission has paid off: In 2017, Forbes named her one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Tech. Gates continues to blaze new trails in the tech world by championing diversity and inclusion within her industry—a cause that’s very close to her heart. “We need more voices like mine driving positive change,” she says. “We need everyone pushing forward together so we can create a better future for everyone.”
What Does She Do Now?
Islah Koren Gates is the founder and editor-in-chief of SheKnows, an award-winning website that covers women’s issues and pop culture. Prior to founding SheKnows, Gates was a senior writer at TIME magazine, where she covered feminism, health and women in the workplace. Gates has also written for The New York Times Magazine, Glamour and The Huffington Post.
Insight into her work
Islah Koren Gates is the founder of SheKnows, an online magazine that covers all things women and families. She has been working in the media industry for over 20 years, starting out as a reporter and then becoming a senior editor at Seventeen magazine.
SheKnows is known for itsfemale-focused content, including features on parenting, sex, relationships, health and beauty. The website has a weekly readership of over 2 million people, making it one of the most popular women’s magazines on the web.
In addition to her work at SheKnows, Gates is also a contributor to various other publications and hosts her own podcast called “Parent Sessions” in which she interviews experts about parenting topics.
The Huffington Post recently named Gates one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Media” and she has been featured on The TODAY Show, CBS This Morning and Fox & Friends among others.
