BOSS WOMAN 192 | SHE SHAPES HISTORY

A chai tea with Ripley and an almond cappuccino with Sita from She Shapes History

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

We’re Ripley and Sita, the co founders of She Shapes History. When we first met back in 2017, we immediately hit it off. But soon fell out of touch after we both moved away from Canberra for work and study. After the pandemic brought us both back to Canberra, we reconnected over a coffee. During this coffee, the idea for She Shapes History, a women’s history walking tour, was born.

Tell us about She Shapes History and how it came to be?

Moving back to Canberra has given both of us a new appreciation for the city and all it has to offer. Art, culture, nature, history – Canberra has it all. But, the more we explored the city, the more we began to notice that the contributions of Australian women were often devalued and dismissed. 

We struck on an idea – through walking tours, we could share the stories of incredible Australian women and reclaim the notion that only men have shaped history. We founded She Shapes History as a way of recovering and remembering the stories of Australian women who have been ignored, marginalised and forgotten. So many incredible women have shaped this city. We love using walking tours to share these stories with locals and visitors alike.

How can we support She Shapes History?

We’d love it if you gave us a follow @sheshapeshistory. You can also come on a tour next time you want to get out and explore Canberra’s hidden history!

Any advice for those who are thinking about turning their dreams into a reality?

There’s never a perfect time to launch a business. We launched a tourism business in the middle of a pandemic. Sometimes you just have to jump in and do it. We would also say that having a friend by your side to work through all the challenges of running a small business is absolute gold.