LeanIn Releases New Campaign Starring Emma Watson, Kerry Washington, Serena Williams

Kerry Washington, Lena Dunham, Emma Watson, Selena Gomez and Serena Williams appeared in a video released Thursday to promote LeanIn.org’s new “Together Women Can” campaign.

The celebrities showcased the importance of women helping other women and how it has been critical to their success.

"Scandal" star Washington said she’s “not really sure what my life would look like if it were not for Shonda Rhimes.” Rhimes is credited with casting her as the lead in the popular show.

Tennis legend Williams cited her sister Venus as her guide.

Harry Potter star Watson said Sofia Coppola was a mentor. “She supported my work and made me believe I could do more,” Watson said.

Soccer star Abby Wambach, newscaster Megyn Kelly and Eva Longoria also appeared in the video.

LeanIn.org founder and Facebook's Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said the campaign is meant to raise awareness of the ways women can support each other in the workplace and encourage confidence and leadership skills in girls.

The campaign's core belief is that when a woman helps another woman, they both stand to benefit. The same way, when women celebrate each other’s accomplishment, “we’re all lifted up.”

“When women are CEOs, when women run for office, we inspire girls and women everywhere to believe they can do more,” Sandberg, a self-made billionaire, said in an interview, according to the Associated Press.

“And we still have a very small percentage of leadership roles anywhere, in any industry, in any government anywhere in the world. Our goal is to change that. And while the gap may be big, the numbers change one by one.”