--- title: Firsts: Sylvia Earle, Carla Hayden Reflect on their Careers description: Watch Carla Hayden, Maya Lin, Sylvia Earle and Kathryn Smith reflect on their journeys to becoming 'firsts' in their fields. canonical: https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/ author: Samantha Cooney article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-09-13T00:41:43.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:51:08.173Z og:title: Sylvia Earle, Carla Hayden and More Reflect on Their Journeys to Become 'Firsts' og:description: "I had to be treated differently in order to be treated equally" og:url: https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt109cbb028db6a368/6988dcb4e76ad2be2462f0b4/final-with-hillary-time-firsts-women-changing-the-world-2017-v2-square-for-video-gfx-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: FINAL-WITH-HILLARY-time-firsts-women-changing-the-world-2017-v2-square-FOR-VIDEO-GFX copy og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Sylvia Earle, Carla Hayden and More Reflect on Their Journeys to Become 'Firsts' twitter:description: "I had to be treated differently in order to be treated equally" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt109cbb028db6a368/6988dcb4e76ad2be2462f0b4/final-with-hillary-time-firsts-women-changing-the-world-2017-v2-square-for-video-gfx-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Sylvia Earle, Carla Hayden and More Reflect on Their Journeys to Become 'Firsts' > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=ba6f0c1c-3aac-42a3-835d-a03f2e1ec122&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers. ### TIME Inside TIME: key statements * Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * Inside TIME is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=ba6f0c1c-3aac-42a3-835d-a03f2e1ec122&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/subscribe?i=ba6f0c1c-3aac-42a3-835d-a03f2e1ec122&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is Inside TIME? Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=ba6f0c1c-3aac-42a3-835d-a03f2e1ec122&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch the TIME Firsts panel discussion with women who are changing the world [Watch (HLS stream): Watch the TIME Firsts panel discussion with women who are changing the world](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PidgQQbE.m3u8) (5:05)  _Published 2017-09-13. Watch the TIME Firsts panel discussion with women who are changing the world. The panel features Carla Hayden, Sylvia Earle, Maya Lin, Kathryn Smith, and Mo’ne Davis, and is hosted by TIME editor-in-chief Nancy Gibbs_  by [Samantha Cooney](https://time.com/author/samantha-cooney/)  ## Samantha Cooney Sep 13, 2017 12:41 AM UTC Watch the TIME Firsts panel discussion with women who are changing the world. The panel features Carla Hayden, Sylvia Earle, Maya Lin, Kathryn Smith, and Mo’ne Davis, and is hosted by TIME editor-in-chief Nancy Gibbs  by [Samantha Cooney](https://time.com/author/samantha-cooney/)  ## Samantha Cooney Sep 13, 2017 12:41 AM UTC [Sylvia Earle](http://time.com/collection/firsts/4898567/sylvia-earle-firsts), the first woman to become chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, didn’t set out to be a trailblazer. She just wanted to [study science.](http://motto.time.com/4443916/mentor-women-stem-tech/) “I never thought of myself as being a [feminist](http://time.com/tag/feminism/),” Earle said at an event Tuesday night launching [TIME Firsts](http://time.com/collection/firsts/), a multimedia project featuring 46 groundbreaking women. “It wasn’t about labels. It was about doing the best I could do to be what I was aspiring to be.” Nancy Gibbs, the first woman to serve as editor of TIME, interviewed Earle, [Kathryn Smith](http://time.com/collection/firsts/4898533/kathryn-smith-firsts/) (the first female coach in the NFL), [Maya Lin](http://time.com/collection/firsts/4883284/maya-lin-firsts/) (the first woman to design a memorial on the National Mall) and [Carla Hayden](http://time.com/collection/firsts/4898563/carla-hayden-firsts/) (the first woman and first African American to be Librarian of Congress) about their journeys at Tuesday’s event. The women — who span professions and generations — agreed that they didn’t necessarily aim to shatter the [glass ceiling](http://time.com/collection/firsts/4916400/the-ceiling/?iid=sr-link1), but rather just wanted to accomplish their own dreams. And all said that they were told by their parents that they could do whatever they wanted, regardless of their gender. “I grew up blissfully naive of gender prejudices and race prejudices,” Lin said. But, the women say their journeys made them well aware of those biases. Lin reflected on learning about the racist hate mail directed at her when she was chosen to design the [Vietnam Veterans Memorial](https://www.nps.gov/vive/index.htm) and said she’s frustrated that she’s still often described by her physical appearance in articles. Hayden said she’s been told that she doesn’t “look like a librarian.” Smith said that she struggled with getting access to locker room space to prepare for games on the road. She added that she worked with the league to make sure other [female coaches](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/08/23/49ers-katie-sowers-becomes-first-openly-lgbt-coach-in-nfl/?utm%5Fterm=.67deaeefdc08) in the league have an easier transition down the line. “I didn’t want to make waves,” she said. “I wanted to be treated equally. But I had to be treated differently in order to be treated equally.” And though the four leaders agreed that circumstances have vastly improved for women, there are still a number of roadblocks in the way. “We will look to the day when we don’t actually celebrate someone breaking the glass ceiling, we’ll celebrate its disappearance,” Gibbs said. “And when that happens, that will be because of… women like these.” ## Transcript So, a scientist, an architect, a football coach, and a librarian of Congress walk into a bar. [ LAUGH ] Actually, that's later. It's possible this is the most eclectic panel I'll ever get to moderate in my life and also, except for the commonality of your Awesomeness and some interesting themes that I think surfaced even in these bits of your story. So I'm tempted to start at the very beginning because I'm curious from each of you. When we spoke with Hillary Clinton last week, one of the Research that she cited that was particularly sobering to me were studies that showed that girls as young as six years old already think that boys are smarter than they are and. And so we can talk about all sorts of obstacles and barriers and messages that you encounter along the way. But she was worried about where this must begin. And this of course makes me curious about your parents and about your messages. And what you were told that seems to have given the kind of jet fuel that has taken you so far. Sophie, do you want [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Well as a young woman, I was told I could look forward to a career as a secretary, a nurse, a teacher and something really exciting, I could be an airline stewardess. [ LAUGH ] And those were all great professions. And fine but that's not what I wanted to do. But I had parents who in spite of their practical advice, were always had my back. Whatever you want to do dear, you know. It's okay. We're here for you. It was a best gift of parents could ever give to anyone, to let me be me. [ LAUGH ] Whatever that is. So as a scientist, they couldn't figure out how I could ever make a living. But they figured, well, she'll just get married and have kids. [ LAUGH ] That was okay. Which you did too. Let her do her science thing [ LAUGH ] Carla. Well, I had strong women in the family. And my grandmother made sure that her two daughters even with the racial divide and everything that was happening, would go to college, cuz she said she never wanted them to work in anybody's kitchen And so I had my mom and my aunt. And then it was like of course you're gonna get a PhD, okay. [ LAUGH ] Wow. My parents were academics, poet ceramacist and I think my mother smuggled out of China when she was 19. Twenty dollars to go smith, full professor, worked, my dad had this amazing half sister [ UNKNOWN ] who he adored and he just wanted a girl and he Entrusted almost, I could be anything, I could do anything. So I got this incredible guidance from my Mom, who was of out there doing her thing and raising two kids. And my Dads love for me was almost like, you can do anything you want, it was maybe not The stereotype of what fathers and daughters are, but it was incredibly empowering at a very early age. Now I'm amazed at how many women talked about their fathers. I mean, many talked about their mothers, a lot talked about their fathers. and how powerful that message that you can do anything message is enormous impact. I think it's a gift and I think you realize. [ UNKNOWN ] through it that if you told something else, you should grow up, raise a family from your parents, it's a different thing, it actually, it was a much easier I think for me because of the way my parents sort of really what my brother and I become who we wanted to be but also had this incredible No limits because you're the daughter. Catherine. For me, I had an older brother, and older cousins. I was the youngest, and I was the girl. And so, we got sent out to play, and it was figure out how to play with the boys and do what they're doing or Get left behind. Well, I don't want to get left behind, so I did whatever they did and really found a way to okay, if they can do that I can do that too. So I just wanted to be a part of that and I think that really fell through the sense of whatever they were figuring out how to do, I was going to right there with them figuring it out as well. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/"},"headline":"Sylvia Earle, Carla Hayden and More Reflect on Their Journeys to Become 'Firsts'","datePublished":"2017-09-13T00:41:43.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-08T09:51:08.173Z","description":"\"I had to be treated differently in order to be treated equally\"","url":"https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/","keywords":["Living","feminism","onetime","Firsts"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt109cbb028db6a368/6988dcb4e76ad2be2462f0b4/final-with-hillary-time-firsts-women-changing-the-world-2017-v2-square-for-video-gfx-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Samantha Cooney","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/samantha-cooney/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt109cbb028db6a368/6988dcb4e76ad2be2462f0b4/final-with-hillary-time-firsts-women-changing-the-world-2017-v2-square-for-video-gfx-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"FINAL-WITH-HILLARY-time-firsts-women-changing-the-world-2017-v2-square-FOR-VIDEO-GFX copy","caption":"","creditText":"Photographs by Luisa Dörr for TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-living/","name":"Living"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/","name":"Sylvia Earle, Carla Hayden and More Reflect on Their Journeys to Become 'Firsts'"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Watch the TIME Firsts panel discussion with women who are changing the world","description":"Watch the TIME Firsts panel discussion with women who are changing the world. The panel features Carla Hayden, Sylvia Earle, Maya Lin, Kathryn Smith, and Mo’ne Davis, and is hosted by TIME editor-in-chief Nancy Gibbs","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/PidgQQbE/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-09-13T16:02:33.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PidgQQbE.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/","duration":"PT5M5S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4938945/sylvia-earle-carla-hayden-firsts-event/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```