This week on Clover, I had the honor of sitting down with Celeste Mergens, bestselling author and founder of Days for Girls, a global movement that has reached nearly 4 million women and girls in 145 countries.Celeste’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership doesn’t always begin with a master plan. She started out wanting to be an electrical engineer. Life rerouted her into motherhood, raising six children, and later completing two master’s degrees. Celeste is also the author of The Power of Days, where she shares the extraordinary story behind the global movement she founded. What she models so beautifully is that nothing is wasted; every season prepares you for the next.Days for Girls began with a moment of awareness in rural Kenya. Celeste discovered that girls were missing school because they lacked access to menstrual products—and in some cases were being exploited just to obtain one. What began as 500 handmade kits sewn by volunteers grew, step by step, into a global movement.In this conversation, we explore:Why menstruation remains one of the world’s most persistent taboosHow silence around women’s bodies shapes power and opportunityWhat happens when girls reclaim authority over their biologyThe power of invitation over imposition in global leadershipWhy listening—not telling—has been central to Days for Girls’ impactWhat it means to trust the next step without seeing the full pathWhat struck me most is that this isn’t just about menstrual equity. It’s about dignity. It’s about rewriting a narrative that has labeled women’s bodies as shameful or untouchable—and choosing instead to see them as powerful.Celeste didn’t set out to build a global organization. She followed invitations. She paid attention. She acted when she saw injustice. And she held a vision bigger than what felt “measurable and achievable.”Without periods, there would be no people.This episode is about shifting from silence to celebration—and what becomes possible when we’re courageous enough to talk about what the world told us not to.ResourcesDays for Girls - WebsiteCeleste Mergens - LinkedInThe Power of Days - Book