The gender gap can’t be solved at the corporate level alone. Find out why. Research suggests that when young girls are able to see themselves in women who rise to the top of their fields, or understand that no career path or topic of study is off-limits, it can have a ripple effect that shapes the rest of their lives. Maya Sharma, a high school student from Washington State, is already paying it forward to the next generation of female leaders. She’s the author of “Paving,” a new book featuring 25 interviews with a remarkable list of inspiring women, from New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern to Pulitzer Prize-winning White House reporter Ashley Parker. In this interview, Maya shares some of her reasons for undertaking this effort, her biggest takeaways from the wide range of interviews, and the importance of activism among younger generations.