Lucy Doughty A Champion for Women’s and Children’s Causes Shares Some Women’s History Month Thoughts

Lucy Doughty is a philanthropist, businesswoman, designer, and advocate of women’s and children’s causes. Splitting her time between London and her ancestral Dominican Republic, Lucy is often raising money for women’s and children’s causes, or sitting at the bedside of a sick child. An American citizen and British resident of Dominican descent, Lucy is kind but bold, and sitting at the helm of the Doughty Family Foundation.

I was connected to Lucy by a mutual acquaintance, as she would be on my annual International Women’s Day panel that I host in London every March. We conversed over Whatsapp in the days leading up to the event, and she came across as very kind and enthusiastic. I first met Lucy the day before my event was to take place in her palatial West London home, she was the kindness I experienced over Whatsapp leading up to our meeting, but also direct with a boldness that Latin women possess. From her all-in-one dining room/home office, Lucy gets her philanthropic work done with finesse and a go getter attitude. With two mobile phones and messages constantly coming in, Lucy managed to converse with me in English, pick up phone calls in Spanish, and come back to me and handle texts at the same time. Born in New York, Lucy has that New York work ethic, Latin spice, and British poise.

And as I called her to tell her that my International Women’s Day event had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus, calm and kind Lucy said, “oh, just come over and we can chat,” to which we did this very interview. And we did over Crumbs and Dolies cupcakes.

As we’re in Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day having just passed, Lucy shares her thoughts on women and how her philanthropic heart developed:

Photo Credit: Karlina Vitolina

Seele Magazine: You’re a philanthropist, businesswoman, designer and advocate for women’s rights and children’s causes- and you’re bringing attention to areas of suffering in our world. Where did this activism and desire to make a difference come from? Did it come from your multi-cultural background, or your upbringing, or does it stem from something that’s innate in you?

Lucy Doughty: Essentially I believe it stems from a combination of all of those factors and my life’s journey, the things, people and situations I have witnessed, learned and grown from are all fuel that guide me and act as examples of ways one can help others, while reminding me to be grateful for my own blessings. When you come across something in any state of distress and you see a way in which you can make it better, even if it is only in what you think is a small way, if that alleviates someone else’s strife or pain, it’s a natural human reaction to act on that impulse.

The values instilled in me growing up that I was taught by my family are something I pass on to my own children and younger generations, but it is definitely a case of activating and nurturing the innate natural instinct we all as humans possess: compassion, empathy, justice, fairness, love, respect and such, they are all aspects that add up to a sense of social responsibility. My Latin heritage as a woman, especially and certainly ingrained a strong nurturing vein that runs through all I do, and I was fortunate to grow up with some incredibly strong women as role models, most notably my grandmother with whom I was extremely close.

SM: What does women’s history month mean to you? In what ways can women use this month as a launching pad to help other women?

LD: It is a chance to use an incredibly powerful collective platform to show solidarity, exchange ideas and share the knowledge and compassion we as women have worked so hard for throughout history. It’s an important time to realize that the world is really paying attention, so communicate wisely on important issues. Women are creatures of nurture and community so things are rarely about just them but about including everyone - men too obviously! It’s essentially also a great celebration of all things feminine and womanhood!!

Photo Provided by Lucy Doughty

SM: What barriers have you faced or experienced as a woman? And, how have you overcome?

LD: Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a self-proclaimed yes-girl - meaning if I’m presented with a “no” on something important - then I will inevitably find a suitable way to nicely turn this around into a “yes”. Usually it’s an alternative way of approaching and dealing with an issue. We as women are always good at thinking outside of the box! If you are determined to get something done and it’s important to you, there is always a way, most times it looks different to the plan you originally had in mind. Life has a way of surprising us, we can’t control that but we can manage how we react and deal with such.

SM: How would you like the future to look for women?

LD: More equal and on par with men!! The gender pay gap, the access to good education, the equal chances in the workplace, less sexism generally. Women are as valuable as men because they are different in so many ways too - I would like to see the future of women as a safe and equal place that also embraces their feminine qualities and power because those are great strengths too.

SM: What would you tell your 20-year-old self and what is something that you wish you had known at 20 that you know now?

LD: You Matter