Trailblazing Women Inspiring Inclusion This International Womens Day

A new poll has revealed the most sought after speakers for International Women’s Day. The event marks the moment the world comes together to raise awareness about the need to end gender discrimination across all sections of society. And rising numbers of businesses are now booking speakers to appear in events which pay tribute to those striving to achieve equality.

This year the theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion “when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment”.  IWD takes place on 8 March, but many businesses and organisations are already racing to secure the very best speakers to deliver keynote speeches.

With just eight weeks to go until IWD, who specialise in providing the very best speakers can today announce their top 15 most popular International Women’s Day speakers based on previous years. A poll, based on feedback and reviews from the businesses and providers, the agency works with found to be:

• Baroness Karren Brady
• Katie Piper
• Mandy Hickson
• Dame Inga Beale
• Thais Compoint
• Nicola Adams
• Martine Wright
• Bonita Norris
• Helen Sharman
• Brigadier Nicky Moffat
• Susie Wolff
• Penny Power
• Mary Earps
• Christine Ohuruogu
• Hannah Cockroft

Commenting, Champions Speakers agency director Jack Hayes said: “International Women’s Day is now one of the most eagerly anticipated days of the year, where we rightly come together to celebrate the huge progress which has been made in removing gender discrimination from society.

I’m fortunate to work with many incredible female speakers whose stories of success, which often comes after overcoming very difficult hurdles, leave their audiences inspired. Securing a brilliant speaker is the perfect way for any business or organisation to celebrate IWD and make the most of a really important day..”

Champions’ Top Five Female Speakers For IWD

Baroness Karren Brady – Named one of the 50 most inspirational people in the world, Karren Brady, former managing director of Birmingham City FC, has dedicated her career to the same values as International Women’s Day.

The business mogul, who regularly appears as an aide on The Apprentice, is a renowned champion of women in business.

Katie Piper – Turning adversity into the opportunity to inspire, Katie Piper survived a life-altering acid attack and now empowers others to embrace their inner beauty.

After the harrowing event, that left much of her face unrecognisable, and caused blindness in one eye, Katie stepped into the spotlight in a bid to raise awareness for burns victims.

Mandy Hickson – Paving the way for women in the Royal Air Force, Mandy Hickson was only the second female to fly a Tornado GR4 on the front line.

Changing the perception of what women can achieve, Mandy fearlessly proved her worth by leading operations with an otherwise all-male Front Line Tornado Squadron and completing 45 missions over Iraq, all whilst being a mother of two children.

Dame Inga Beale – 328 years since the insurance giant was founded, Dame Inga Beale was named the first-ever female CEO of Lloyd’s of London in 2014.

A monumental moment in business history, Inga’s introduction defied gender norms for senior business positions and proved the best person would be selected for the role despite gender.

Thaie Compoint – Who better than to support your team for International Women’s Day than a global consultant on inclusion and diversity, Thais Compoint. As founder and CEO of Déclic International, Thais is on a mission to highlight the importance of diversity, give actionable advice on inclusivity, and prove that a varied workforce leads to a greater financial gain and a thriving business.