08 Mar International Women’s Day: Celebrating Incredible Women
8th March marks International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to honouring the phenomenal women who inspire us, lift us up, and leave an indelible mark on the world in their own extraordinary ways. From trailblazing leaders to everyday heroes, International Women’s Day is all about recognising the incredible contributions of women everywhere.
Recognising the significant contributions of women, we’ve asked our team to share stories about the remarkable women who inspire them most.
Sharon White
Sharon’s career reads as a series of firsts… From several senior Whitehall jobs before taking the reins at the media body, Ofcom and later the retail institution, John Lewis, she is a true trailblazer.
Born to immigrant parents in the 50s, Sharon was an Economics graduate before gaining over 25 years’ experience in government and the public sector, being appointed Director of General of Public Spending from 2012-2013 and in 2013, she was appointed Second Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, making her one of the most powerful women in Whitehall. Her appointment was hailed as “punching a hole in the glass ceiling.” She was the first black person to be a permanent secretary at the Treasury and only the second woman.
In 2015, she left the Treasury and was appointed chief executive of Ofcom, the regulator’s first ever female chief exec and later John Lewis’ first female chair. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, throughout her career she has carried out lots of coaching and mentoring, particularly of women in the early stages of their careers declaring that she tries to “boost their confidence to put their hat in the ring for more senior jobs. I try to be open and accessible to staff at all grades”. A true inspiration.
Anna Jones
British entrepreneur and Co-founder of women’s network and members’ club, AllBright, Anna Jones, strives to support women in business. She is an inspiration to many with her unwavering dedication to empowering women in business and her commitment to fostering a supportive community.
As the co-founder of AllBright, she has created a platform that ensures women are equipped with the tools for success, providing valuable resources, mentorship opportunities, and networking events to help them thrive professionally. Her passion for gender equality in the workplace is evident in her efforts to address the unique challenges faced by female founders and professionals. Anna’s leadership and advocacy serve as a beacon of hope for women aspiring to succeed in male-dominated industries. By championing women’s voices and creating opportunities for growth and advancement, Anna is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future for women in business.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Nigerian author, TEDx speaker, and advocate for intersectional feminism, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose incredible journey to become an award-winning and internationally recognised author will always be inspiring. Chimamanda has been awarded sixteen honorary doctorate degrees from universities all across the world, in addition to receiving multiple awards for her writing. Her work with minority groups, including women and the LGBTQ+ community, has left a renowned mark in their respective spaces. She’s strong-willed and resilient, fighting for what she believes in and achieving beyond her goals despite any hardships she faces.
Raye
The incredible singer-songwriter taking the UK music industry by storm. Not only has Raye just won a record-breaking six Brit Awards, but she achieved this as a fully independent artist. After years of being held back by her record label, who refused to release her albums and side-lined her to guest vocals on other artists’ tracks, Raye took her career into her own hands. After parting ways with the label in 2021 and re-entering the industry independently, what followed was arguably one the greatest pop successes; a debut album, a number 1 single, and a UK tour with a sold-out night at the 02. Raye’s determination has set an example for young women everywhere and she continues to speak out on the music industry’s many inequalities, especially the un-level playing field towards female roles behind the scenes.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala is a Pakistani activist for female education and was named the youngest Nobel Prize laureate at just 17. She is an inspiration to millions around the world for her unwavering commitment to advocating for girls’ education, despite facing extreme adversity. Her courageous stance against the efforts to deny education to girls in her native Pakistan, even after surviving an assassination attempt, showcases her indomitable spirit and dedication to her cause. Malala’s resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in the power of education as a tool for empowerment has made her a global symbol of courage and hope. She continues to fearlessly speak out for the rights of girls and women everywhere, co-authoring the memoir “I Am Malala,” and establishing the Malala Fund to support girls’ education worldwide.
Taylor Swift
Whether it’s causing seismic shifts and bolstering the economies of cities around the world on her Eras Tour or regaining the rights to her own music through re-recordings, the past few years have been pretty iconic for Taylor Swift. Following her own struggles, through consistent campaigning, she has prompted reforms to recording, streaming, and distribution structures for fairer artist rights. Viewed as an international role model for young girls and women, alongside her musical endeavours Taylor has also continuously voiced her support for LGBTQ+ rights and been a vocal critic of racism, white supremacy, police brutality, sexism, and homophobia.
Camilla Hanmer
Camilla is a 30-year-old mum of two, professional princess and breast cancer survivor who has shown incredible strength over the past year battling grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer while raising awareness online by sharing her story. She has raised an amazing amount of money for multiple cancer charities during her treatment by participating in fundraisers such as the Breast Friends 2024 Calendar. She will be completing a charity skydive later this year, raising money for the Osborne Trust, a charity that helps families, specifically children, whose parents have had a cancer diagnosis. Camilla has been amazingly positive throughout her journey and is a constant source of inspiration.
Roxie Nafousi
From finding herself at rock bottom and battling a drug and alcohol addiction in 2018, Roxie Nafousi discovered manifestation and turned her life around to become a self-development coach, inspirational speaker, manifesting expert, and two-time Sunday Times Bestselling author. Hailed as “the manifesting queen” by Forbes and the Financial Times, Roxie’s debut book Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life is a global success and widely regarded as the must-have guide to manifestation. Roxie has created a brand in which manifestation is widely talked about and respected; she regularly hosts her own sell-out workshops and webinars. She’s also worked with some of the world’s largest companies and is a regular podcast guest, speaker, and interviewee on the likes of This Morning, The Today Show, Stylist, and Harper’s Bazaar.
Jane Fonda
Political activist, actor, fitness guru, and all-round icon, Jane, has just turned 86 and has spent much of her life actively fighting for the rights of others. Through the decades, and long before it was trendy, Fonda figured out how to make Hollywood and activism serve each other and has used her platform and privilege to be a voice for people without one. Still speaking out for causes like the environmental crisis, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, Fonda rebels against the establishment even in her 80s, continuing to be as committed an activist as she ever was.
Who is your female inspiration? Share their stories and celebrate their achievements this International Women’s Day.