A ROOM FOR ALL: EMPOWERING WOMEN IN CREATIVITY WITH YOUTUBE
editor MARIE-PAULINE CESARI
words ELIANA CASA
On a cloudy Friday morning in Amsterdam, an incredible group of women from different innovative fields gathered in the same room for the Numéro Netherlands and YouTube brunch. The event aimed to spark meaningful conversations and connections, with a strong focus on empowering women in creative industries. The event was designed to be more than a typical panel discussion, moving beyond the surface to foster genuine interactions. Carefully curated conversation cards were placed on each table, inviting attendees to share their stories, ideas, and experiences in an open dialogue.
To make the experience even more immersive, participants received a “virgin magazine” – a blank canvas where they could jot down thoughts, sketch ideas, or reflect on anything that inspired them throughout the event. This unique format allowed for an intimate, dynamic exchange among peers and celebrated the collective strength of women breaking barriers in fields like fashion, music, and digital content creation.
Co-hosting this event with YouTube naturally raised the question: how can online platforms like YouTube provide an ideal setting for creators to reshape industry standards? Numéro Netherlands Managing Editor, Marie-Pauline Cesari, alongside YouTube Senior Strategic Partner Manager, Wally Ahmady, sat down with DJ and Producer Grace Dahl, Art Historian Cathelijne Blok, Head of YouTube Sweden Michelle Kadir, and Content Creator & Singer, Delany Lepelblad
A room of one’s own transformed into a room for everyone—a free and open environment where voices harmonized, creating a moment free from prejudice where no thought was left unsaid.
I was fortunate enough to be part of that inspiring room.
The discussion kicked off with DJ Grace Dahl sharing her unique experiences regarding gender barriers—or the lack thereof—in her career. “How can we make sure that women in the music industry can experience freedom from discrimination?” Grace’s reply was quite shocking - yet terrifying. Because she didn't conform to society's beauty standards, she was taken more seriously in her field. “Not being a sex object to men, I guess, maybe made it easier in a way” - she commented.
Her personal experience ignited a broader conversation about the pivotal role of community as a catalyst for change. Whether through online or offline spaces, true transformation can only emerge from inclusive discussions. Unfortunately, this ideal is often overshadowed by the harsh realities of modern online platforms, where especially women are frequently exposed to the criticism of others, leading to a barrage of negative comments.
As Grace noted, many of us can relate to this struggle. Comments often target women’s appearances in videos, a critique that is less prevalent in content featuring men. Platforms like YouTube are making strides to foster a more supportive environment, using AI to create space for free speech and self-expression. The true beauty of social media lies in its ability to connect individuals who inspire one another and cultivate meaningful relationships. As Michelle explained, YouTube, which turns 20 next year, has invested significant effort in enhancing its comment section and ensuring a more positive user experience. This commitment to creating safe spaces that promote free expression is essential.
Representation is key and it must be the only way to move forward. The incredible Cathelijne knows one or two things about it. Founder of TittyMag, a powerful online platform for elevating marginalized voices, she discussed the intersection of art and activism as a powerful tool to break barriers for women. “I believe that any shape of art is a way of acting out, telling your own story in various shapes and forms, or perhaps a bigger story. I believe that art is activism.”
To support these stories, additional funds and public attention are still needed. “There's always room for more improvement”, Grace added - and progress is finally starting to be noticeable. More and more women are filling the same chairs of men in the music industry, by supporting each other and expressing themselves freely.
That form of connection is also present in Delany’s experience as a singer. “You have a lot of directors who shoot music videos and it's mostly men. I like to create a team around me with as many women as possible. I think it’s important to choose wisely who you want to work with to make a difference.” - she continued. “Be the catalyst of the community” concluded Wally.
Something is holding us back still though, according to Catheljin. “Why, in some way, it feels like it's not coming together enough? We could have had these events or gatherings every day.” Someone from the audience raised her powerful voice, and exclaimed: “If we're talking about a community, we're talking about a collective. What is the collective interest?” PR events are all about gaining something from the presence of their guests”, she continued “it should be about building community. And building community takes more time. If you want to plant something, you're going to have steady roots so you can actually build on that, with water. And then over time you can get something that's going to be very fruitful.” Another guest added, “If that's clear and you water that over time, I think beautiful things can happen.”
In that moment, I truly understood the strength of unity. One voice inspired another, creating a ripple that flew throughout the morning. Building alliances is essential for paving the way to opening new doors. Grace offered a thought that resonated deeply and has stayed with me ever since: "Be the community you want to see, and try to build that yourself." This is something she embodies in her own personal life, where most events she attends are driven solely by the purpose of bringing people together, not profit. "I've had newer female DJs come to me for advice, and I’m always open to share. For me, it’s about being the change you want to see."
In line with Grace’s perspective, Michelle has identified three steps throughout her journey: first, find what you love and excel in; second, don’t feel the need to go through every open door—recognize the right people and moments; and finally, be intentional about choosing those moments. Proactively offering help before it is even requested is the solution, closely tied to the woman's intuition, which Delany emphasized as a real superpower. Comparison can interrupt this healing process. I’ve personally experienced this, often feeling an underlying sense of competition with other women, even with my own sisters. However, by listening to these stories, I only realized how ridiculous I was. I took a breath and looked back at my inner child - she was healed. At just the right moment, one of our guests shouted, “Don't compare. I think especially with women, there's also a lot of comparison. Stop it. Think about what you want. Do your own thing”.
Society has often taught us to see vulnerability as a weakness, and too often, women themselves contribute to building walls of insecurity and distrust. Instead, we should view ourselves as part of a shared sisterhood. This sentiment was echoed by all four panelists, who agreed that asking for help—and creating an environment where others feel comfortable doing the same—can strengthen our sense of unity. By sharing our experiences, we can shift the finger we sometimes point at each other toward a brighter, collective direction.
Building on this discussion, Marie-Pauline then turned to Michelle and asked, “If you could make one big change for women in the industry tomorrow, what would it be?”
“I would replace a lot of seats at the table”, she replied, and suddenly, someone else jumped in: “we need more women as art directors”, and another voice, adding: “more women in the health department”, and another girl from the back “the world has been run by men since however long, and it's not been working so far, right?” Silence fell, then burst into laughter and a wave of applause. Voices merged as if they were instruments of the same melody, and I was left there, simply mesmerized. A question came up impulsively. “Why is the table heavily guarded by these men?” Men have been sitting in the same chairs, so heavy that moving them feels just impossible. Comfortably they sit, while we (women) feel the urge that society imposed on us: to act like them just to have the same recognition and value. And, when we do sit on those same seats, we are undermined by looks and comments like “you should probably smile more”.
Michelle explained that when growing up she felt more like ‘a boy girl’ just because she liked playing games as much as boys usually do. This behavior translated into the need of acting out like a man in her professional environment in order to be taken seriously.
It turns out, we don’t need to act like them - instead, we collectively need to rise above, and push through.
This journey can sometimes leave one feeling more lost than ever. However, as she emphasized, “you just need to listen to yourself, and take action”. Her own experience, as the daughter of Middle Eastern parents, shaped her career in ways that often made her feel out of place, particularly because she didn’t fit the typical Northern European woman’s standard. How can one still be pushing through sexism and objectification? We all need to raise our voices, for us and the next generation to come. Grace stepped in to share a deeply hurtful experience from backstage at her first Awakening show. A person she knew remarked, “I really don’t understand how you got booked at Awakenings.” Instead of allowing that moment to affect her negatively, she confronted him, engaging in an open and honest discussion about why he would say something like that. Once again, it became clear that open conversation is vital for healing. Someone interjected, “You both had to do the work though, right?”
Though this question left room for introspection, I couldn’t help but wonder: where are the men in all of this? While I was listening to these remarkable women sharing their past traumas and openly discussing paths to personal evolution, a feeling of despair washed over me. It became clear that men need to join us in this conversation, they need to sit in the same room and engage with us. As Delany reminded us, being outspoken about these issues is essential for progress.
While the discussion concluded, guests began to fill the empty Numéro Netherlands magazines left on each table with insights from the panel talk. Online platforms often make us feel trapped in a bubble - that morning we stepped out for a moment to take some air and find ourselves again.
A sense of happiness enveloped the room, as we hugged, thanked each other, and shared our reflections on the experience we just had shared. Somehow, we recognized ourselves in the words of strangers, and came all together with the same conclusion: when will we see each other again?
photography REBECCA KAPENGA