Laura in the News
Katu TV: What can we all do to help girls get to where they want to be in life?
Since she started She is the Universe, Laura has interviewed 51 girls in 21 cities and 10 countries. Season 2 was released on Oct 11th, on the International Day of the Girl.
Peña has conducted interviews in the United States (her home for the past 14 years), The Dominican Republic (her country of origin), Colombia, Peru, Iceland, The UK, The Netherlands and Denmark. Her journey will continue to countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania. Read more
Morgunbladid / Iceland: The world is missing more women in positions of influence.
Laura worries that today's world leaders will set us apart rather than unite, and destroy the earth. She wants to encourage young women to join the movement she started, called "She is the Universe," where 111 teenage girls from six continents tell their stories. Laura Peña is a visionary who set out on a mission this summer and is currently in Iceland to film stories of Icelandic teenage girls.
Unearth Women: How She is the Universe Empowers Teenage Girls
We’ve all heard the age-old philosophical question about the tree falling in the forest. If no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound? What if we apply that same thinking to today’s young women? What if they ask for help but no one is around to hear them?
Dominican-born graphic artist and animator, Laura Pena, is on a mission to ensure this generation of young women not only have an outlet to share their dreams but one that allows them to be heard, far and wide. More
Spark Stories: How one woman left her old life behind to follow her curiosity and created a global movement.
Laura is a woman on fire and has had countless accomplishments; she is a world traveler, a storyteller, a filmmaker, an entrepreneur, a motion designer and animator, a mentor, a visionary, and she is a guide for so many, most importantly, our girls of the world. She has spoken on multiple stages- including our very own SPARK stage, she has also appeared on TEDx and Creative Mornings.
Revestida Mag: Proyectos que cambian vidas.
Apoyo, una palabra sustancial para la materialización de nuestros sueños. Esto es lo que She is the Universe (Ella es el universo) ofrece a las chicas que quieren ver sus sueños hechos realidad.
A través del empoderamiento este proyecto impulsa a las niñas a no perder la fe y a nunca limitarse en el logro de sus metas, dándoles la oportunidad de convertirse en líderes capaces de hacer cambios en sus comunidades e influenciar a otras personas con sus historias. Leer más (en español)
Diario Libre / Dominican Republic: She’s the Universe, la voz de las niñas del mundo.
(the voice of the world's girls)
¿Has sentido que necesitas una pausa y hacer algo diferente y que aporte algo a los demás? Laura Peña puede ser tu inspiración.
”I believe that each one of us has something inside, all of us. The world will miss out if you don't do something about it. Because someone out there needs to see what YOU need to create.” —
Laura Peña
Podcasts Interviews
-
![]()
Good Life Project: Empowering girls to stand in their stories
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Laura Peña discovered a love of design, animation, filmmaking, storytelling, and technology that led her to New York City to study. Her fierce commitment to her craft created a fast name in the space, led her to work with many of the top brands in the world, and eventually found her own creative design lab, JelloMonsters.
But, an experience back in the Dominican Republic set in motion a different quest that would lead her to put nearly every other part of her life on hiatus. She wanted to find a way to give voice to teenage girls.
-
![]()
Days for Girls: Empowering Girls Through Storytelling with Laura Pena
In this inspiring episode, Laura talks about her current and upcoming projects with She is the Universe, the impact of her work on women and girls around the globe, her favorite stories from interviews on six continents, and her steadfast belief in the ability of girls to change the world (when given the right tools and support).
-
![e’ve all heard the age-old philosophical question about the tree falling in the forest. If no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound? What if we apply that same thinking to today’s young women? What if they ask for help but no one is ar]()
The Performance Code: Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone with Laura Pena
Storytelling has the power to transform lives, but not everyone has the confidence or opportunity to have their stories told; in fact when asked to tell their story a common response. “I don’t have a story worth telling”
Laura Peña is a storyteller, TEDx speaker and creative producer driven by a desire to amplify global voices needing to be heard. Her latest project She’s The Universe is a global movement empowering young girls to claim their power and achieve their goals.
-
![]()
Sammie Smiles: Sammie interviews Laura Peña
In this episode of Sammie Smiles, you will meet Laura Peña the founder of She is the Universe. She is the Universes is a Global Movement for Girl's Empowerment. Laura helps connect girls from all around the world to encourage one another and cultivate friendships. Find out why Laura started it and plans for the future. Also, find out how long Sammie has been involved. Don't forget to stay tuned until the end to hear what makes Laura smile.
-
![]()
We are only human: Laura Peña: Is This It?
Laura felt like she was on a train going a million miles an hour. And then suddenly, she stopped and thought to herself: Is this where I’m supposed to be?
Today Laura is the founder of She Is The Universe, a global platform that inspires and empowers teenage girls around the world.
Break the twitch: How following creative trust has led Laura to create a docuseries featuring empowering stories of girls.
Whether you’re needing to make space for creativity or embarking on something new, this episode with Laura Peña is sure to spark creative action in your life.
After living in New York for 13 years, Laura recounts how she made the decisions to quit her agency job, work for herself, and move across the country. Laura talks about the role of trust in creative endeavors and shares the synergies she’s experienced from being open to the possibilities.
Books features
SPARKED: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive / Jonathan Fields.
Get the book here
The Hollywood Approach: Script Your Life Like a Hit Movie and Live Your Wildest Dream / Kristina Paider
Get the book here
Podcasts
GLP (Good Life Project)
Empowering girls to stand in their stories /Listen here
Days for girls
Empowering Girls Through Storytelling with Laura Pena / Listen here
We're Only Human
Conversations with extraordinary people / Laura Peña: Is This It? / Listen Here
The Performance Code
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone with Laura Pena / Listen here
Sammie Smiles
Sammie Interviews Laura Peña / Listen here
Break the twitch
She is the Universe with Laura Peña / Listen here
Brave Enough to Be
Being Brave Enough to Serve Something Bigger Than Yourself / Listen here
Motion hatch
How to work from anywhere and follow your passions / Listen here
Law of Attraction in Action
She is The Universe / Listen here
The How to Be Global Podcast
Humans of ClubHouse (Live Recording)Listen here
International News
Iceland: Morgunbladid
The world needs more women in positions of influence
”She is concerned that today's world leaders are tearing us apart instead of uniting us. And destroy the earth. She wants to encourage young women to do something, so she started the project "She is the Universe", where 111 teenage girls from 6 continents tell their story.” Read here
Diario Libre
She’s the Universe: la voz de las niñas del mundo
”¿Has sentido que necesitas una pausa y hacer algo diferente y que aporte algo a los demás? Laura Peña puede ser tu inspiración.
La joven dominicana, profesional de las artes gráficas y animación, tuvo siempre la suerte de ejercer su profesión y trabajar en lo que le gustaba con grandes marcas en Estados Unidos, sin embargo; decidió hacer grandes cambios en su vida para dedicarse a su proyecto: ser el canal de las voces de niñas y adolescentes del mundo.” Read more
Magazines & TV
Unearth Women
How She is the Universe empowers Teenage Girls
Read here
Ketu TV
Exploring what it means to be a girl in today's world
Watch and read more here
Univision Portland
Cineasta latina lanza proyecto para empoderar a jovencitas por todo el mundo
Watch and read more here
Spark Stories
How one woman left her old life behind to follow her curiosity and created a global movement.
Watch here
Web Designer Magazine
UK / Feature design & Storytelling work / Print
Uepa Magazine
Dominican Republic / Interviewed and Invited to design magazine cover
Lengua Mag
Dominican Republic / Print / Feature personal project “5 minutes”
Web Design 4
USA / Print / Compilation of best design tutorials
Arte y Diseño
Spain / Print / Feature Design work
Vivir Magazine from Hoy Newspaper
Dominican Republic / Print / Frontpage interview
