Women Who Inspire - Haley Mancini

Haley Mancini is a comedian, actress, and writer who currently serves as a writer and the voice of Princess Morbucks on "The Powerpuff Girls". One of her episodes was recently nominated for an Emmy. She has written for Nickelodeon's "The Loud House", ABC's "Paper Dolls", and Disney's "Club Penguin”. Haley been in "Shameless", "Mad Men", "24", "Weeds", and "The Morning After". She has also starred in a number of popular web series, including Comedy Central's "Video Game Reunion" and "The Most Popular Girls in School".

Our interview with Haley:

Svaha: The PowerPuff Girls is thought to be one of the most important feminist cartoons in history, thanks to its girl-powered heroines who can fight! What made you passionate about wanting to write for the show?

Haley: I've been a lifelong fan of the original Powerpuff Girls, so even getting to come in for the interview was a dream-come-true! I've always loved the characters, the tip to anime, and above all, the monster fights. I'm a HUGE Godzilla and general kaiju fan, so getting to write for a show where three kick-butt girls get to knock monsters' teeth out? It was a no-brainer!

Svaha: You have been incredibly successful in a very male-dominated field. What is your advice to girls out there who want to break down gender barriers?

Haley: Well, thank you very much! Haha. My advice to girls who want to break down gender barriers is to a) speak up and b) support each other! I know it's hard to be aggressive sometimes, but I've noticed a lot of young women definitely worry about others in the workplace before themselves (which I feel like is a product of socialization). In my experience, it's almost always better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission (with the exception of eating someone else's lunch out of the fridge).

Also, support your fellow ladies! I got my job at Powerpuff because another fabulous lady of comedy always liked my work and passed it on. And, looking back, almost all of my bigger gigs have come from other women who have dug my style. I make it a habit to pay it forward and always recommend other women, plus POC and LGBTQ friends. The biggest mistake a woman can make, IMO, is not realizing that there's room for everyone at the top. There's not just one seat at the table; there are a ton. You just have to bring a few more chairs over.

Svaha: You write about girls who have superpowers. If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?

Haley: I think I'd want to fly. Flying dreams are still my favorite type of dreams to have, so I'm sticking with it, boring or not.

Svaha: What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

Haley: I'm trying to remember exactly what she said, but a college acquaintance a few classes younger than me told me years after the fact that she'd been going through a really tough time at one point in college and that I guess I reached out and had her back in a rough social moment, and that it never left her as an important moment in her life. I don't remember doing it, but I was really grateful to hear that I'd helped someone who was having a bad time! And it actually brought us together as friends currently!

Svaha: If you could pick any song to be your theme song when you walk into a room, what would you choose and why?

Haley: "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by The Scorpions. It's just such an intense song and I am so not-intense-looking and the idea of it just makes me laugh.

Special thanks to Haley for helping to empower little girls all over the world! You rock and we think you are awesome!