To commemorate International Women's Day, Pink Shoe members & friends nominated Inspiring Women who are worthy of recognition. Some of these wonderful women are known across the world whilst others are recognised within their communities. Those nominating said about these inspiring women:
She demonstrates that women can be great, respected and liked leaders
She inspires me with her vision, her application and her work ethic
She speaks sense and gives practical advice
She cares and goes out of her way to make a real difference
She demonstrates how consistency creates results
She embodies the ethos of helping others reach their full potential
She has made an outstanding contribution to the lives of others
……What she has achieved so far is only the beginning of a long and fruitful journey
The IWD 2015 Roll of Inspiring Women
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| Valerie Amos |
Baroness Amos
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. First black woman cabinet minister and Leader of House of Lords. Charity Trustee; entrepreneur; previously High Commissioner to Australia; CEO, Equal Opportunities Commission.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. First black woman cabinet minister and Leader of House of Lords. Charity Trustee; entrepreneur; previously High Commissioner to Australia; CEO, Equal Opportunities Commission.
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Foluke Akinlose
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Foluke Akinlose MBE
Founder of Precious online, a network and resource for women of colour, and the Precious Awards. Journalist and entrepreneur, multi award-winner and one of Courvoisier's ‘Future 500’
Founder of Precious online, a network and resource for women of colour, and the Precious Awards. Journalist and entrepreneur, multi award-winner and one of Courvoisier's ‘Future 500’
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| Joan Bakewell |
Baroness Bakewell
Journalist who began her media career in the sixties, was awarded a CBE and made a Dame before becoming a Labour Peer. Appointed as Government’s voice for older people, has been outspoken about the absence of mature women in the media.
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| Kate Barker |
Dame Kate Barker CBE
British economist previously on Bank of England Monetary Committee; CBI Chief Economic Adviser. NED at Taylor Wimpey; Electra; Yorkshire Building Society. Visiting Cambridge Fellow; Chairs several committees & advisory boards; Governor; Charity Trustee.
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| Valerie Beral |
Dame Valerie Beral
Professor of Epidemiology, Director of Oxford’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit. Spent 20 years at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Principal Investigator for 'Million Women Study' leading international collaborative studies of breast, ovarian & endometrial cancer.
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| Ingrid Betancourt |
Ingrid Betancourt
Colombian politician, former senator and anti-corruption activist. Kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, spent six years in captivity in the jungle. Has received many international awards, including the Légion d'honneur.
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| Tira Brine-Andrews |
Tira Brine-Andrews
Chair of Tulsi Trust, driving force behind this extraordinary health and education project in India. Building a school and hospital, making a huge difference to refugees and villagers. The late Tira Dasi was passionate, strong, inspirational - ‘she moved amidst us shining so bright’.
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| Karren Brooks |
Karren Brooks
Founder of Whitespace Leaders and Cay Capital, based in London and Dubai. Leader in the field of Mind, Body & Spirit, described as a ‘Motivational Magician’ using technology to improve personal and business success for clients.
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| Judy Clements |
Judy Clements OBE
The HMRC Adjudicator; previously director of the Independent Police Complaints Commission; and with the Prison Service; a serving officer with West Midlands police force for 10 years. Charity trustee and school Governor.
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| Katherine Corich |
Katherine Corich
Multi award winning founder and global chair of Sysdoc Group, with innovative operations in 4 countries. Trained as Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor. Contributes to world forums such as Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society; G9 Institute.
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| Sharon Doughty Evans |
Sharon Doughty Evans
Former television news
presenter, gave up TV career following a near-fatal car accident to focus on
keeping children safe. Suffered violence and sexual abuse as a child and
created the award-winning Values vs Violence charity to help young people via
school learning programmes.
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| Hilary Farnworth |
Hilary Farnworth
Senior lecturer in enterprise; specialist in challenges facing older women entrepreneurs. Director of Centre for Micro Enterprise which has trained over 700 women to set up business. Founder member of European women inventors network; judge of international business competitions.
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| Jose Fonseca |
Jose Fonseca
Set up the highly successful Models 1 agency in 1968 with April Ducksbury. Created a new era of modelling where models were booked not just as a clothes horse but as a ‘being who brought an essence into her work’.
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| Dawn Gibbins |
Dame Dawn Gibbins MBE
Founded Flowcrete which she grew to a global £50m company. Accolades include Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year; Variety Club ‘Legend of Industry’. Now a ‘Mistress of Fun Shui’; Created social enterprise Congelton Beartown; Following Secret Millionaire became Patron of VISYON charity.
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| Susan Greenwood |
Susan Greenwood
Director and Founding Partner, Destiny CiC. Inspiring mentor, coach and facilitator, has supported 300+ businesses over 10 years specialising in pan-impaired and disadvantaged people. Was Chair of two local charities and a national charity.
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| Kate Grussing |
Kate Grussing
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| Mimi Harker |
Mimi Harker OBE
Town Mayor of Amersham, district councillor for 12 years and currently serves on the Chiltern District Council Cabinet. Helped create the 12A cinema classification, and worked on the Cross Party Task Force encouraging women to participate in public life.
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| Sue Harmsworth |
Susan Harmsworth MBE
Founder and chief executive of global spa consultancy ESPA, with over 350 spas in 55 countries. A pioneer of the sector, has created her vision of combining health and beauty, the mind and body, the natural and the scientific.
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| Margaret Heffernan |
Margaret Heffernan
Award winning Author, Entrepreneur, Chief Executive. Much followed blogger, including Huffington Post. Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship, Simmons College Boston; Executive in Residence, Babson College; London Library Trustee; RADA Council; Company Director. |
| Julia Hobsbawm |
Julia Hobsbawm
Founded 'knowledge networking' business editorialintelligence.com. The world's first professor of Networking, at London's Cass Business School. Author of books and articles. Media Woman of the Year 2012; Evening Standard’s Most Influential 1000 List.
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| Elspeth Howe |
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| Ros Howells |
Baroness Howells
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| Amina Janjuha |
Amina Janjuha
Has worked in education, as a head teacher and adviser, challenging principles on UK education. Committed to her voluntary work and an astute businesswoman, she lives by a strong set of values that underpin everything she does.
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| Emma Jones |
Emma Jones MBE
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| Parul Karia |
Dr Parul Karia
Founder and lead clinician at Stanmore Clinic, ‘boutique’ private primary healthcare facility. Acupuncture and non-surgical beauty specialist. Previously Specialist Registrar in Accident and Emergency. Swam the channel in support of ASPIRE charity.
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| Sadi Khan |
Sadi Khan
Founder of award winning Noble Khan cultural training business, overcame domestic violence to become a successful entrepreneur. Gold Winner, Trainer Of Year Award 2013; Women’s Aid ‘Survivor of the Year’ Award 2011.
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| Brenda King |
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| Kanya King |
Kanya King MBE
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| Susan Kramer |
Began career in finance, rose to Vice-President of Citibank Chicago. With husband set up International Capital Partners, which advises on infrastructure projects. Previously MP for Richmond, entered House of Lords in 2010 and is LibDem Treasury spokesman; Charity Trustee.
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| Rupy Kaur |
Rupy Kaur
Trustee of Scope; involved in disability issues since young. Two years as National Disabled Students’ Officer for National Union of Students (NUS) ; Now Trustee for Disabled Students’ Allowances - Quality Assurance Group; Established a society to support disabled people.
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| Ellie Simmonds OBE |
Ellie Simmonds
British Paralympian Gold Medallist. Youngest Briton to win Olympic or Paralympic medal, aged 13. Youngest winner, BBC Young Sports Personality of the year; youngest recipient of the MBE, aged 14 years. 10 World titles, 5 European titles; has broken 8 World Records.
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| Mei Sim Lei |
Mei Sim Lai OBE DL
Founder of Lai Peters; holds a number of Public, City and Charity appointments including Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. Runs City of London Branch of Institute of Directors and their China Interest Group; on the Court of two Livery Companies.
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| Sue Lawton |
Sue Lawton
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| Deb Leary |
Deborah Leary OBE
Founder of Forensic Pathways, a multi award winning global business. President, British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE); Deputy Director, UN UK Global Network; Board Member, Young Vic; Chair, Midland World Trade Forum. |
| Karen Lynch |
Karen Lynch
CEO of social enterprise Belu mineral water - UK's most ethical water
brand that gives 100% of profits to WaterAid and is 100% carbon neutral. Under Karen’s
governance, Belu has raised over £300,000 for WaterAid.
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| Jayne Moore |
Founder & Director of successful PR company, Moore Media. Helps several charities and is enormously well known and liked in Liverpool for nurturing fresh talent and helping start-up businesses to thrive.
First female head of a junior school in Gloucestershire and university lecturer. Then became a vicar, with special interest in helping the elderly and bereaved. Originally trained as a nurse, fostered many children and is a volunteer hospital visitor and part time opera singer.
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| Úna McBride |
Úna McBride
Honorary
Patron of 'Dying to Keep warm’. A courageous ARP Warden in WWII for which she
earned a medal. Ran a successful business and helped others all her life. A
tireless campaigner who overcame huge struggles, she inspired and bought joy to
many.
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| Ruby McGregor-Smith |
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| Julie Meyer |
Julie Meyer
Founder & CEO Ariadne Capital & Managing Partner of Ariadne Entrepreneurs Fund (ACE). Founder, Entrepreneur Country; co-founder, 1st Tuesday, Dragon on Dragon’s Den online; Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year; INSEAD’s ‘50 alumni who have changed the world’; Wall Street Journal ‘30 most influential women in Europe’.
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| Margaret Mountford |
Margaret Mountford
Before the Apprentice, was NED at Amstrad and Georgica. Originally a lawyer at Herbert Smith. Completed PhD in Papyrology at UCL in 2012. St Marylebone School, Chair of Governors; Trustee of Bright Ideas Trust, helping young people start their own businesses.
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| Joy Nichols |
Joy Nichols MBE
Founder of Joy Nichols Associates, previously founder of multi-million training and recruitment consultancy, CMB2 Group, for which she gained the Queens Award for Enterprise Promotion. Member of Genesis and the New Enterprise Trust Think Tank.
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| Kate Nash |
Kate Nash OBE
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| Miriam O'Reilly |
Miriam O'Reilly
Founder of the Women's Equality Network charity. Longstanding broadcaster who successfully sued the BBC for age discrimination when dropped from Countryfile, The landmark judgement has changed the way the BBC and other broadcasters operate.
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| Jill Pay |
Jill Pay
Made history as first female Serjeant at Arms at the House of Commons. Now runs her own consultancy business and is Trustee of Beanstalk, regularly visiting inner city schools to help children with one-to-one reading.
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| Judy Piatkus |
Started publishing business from her bedroom, grew it to one of the world’s most successful independent global brands. Wisely sold just before the credit crunch; now an executive director, angel investor, mentor, futurist. Times described her as 'one of the world's leading thinkers'.
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| Karen Pollack |
Karen Pollack MBE
Chief
Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Trust, educates young people from every
background about the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance. Driving force
behind the establishment of Holocaust Memorial Day. A wonderful role model for
young people.
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| Penny Power |
Penny Power
Founded online networking community Ecademy in 1998, which works with 620,000 SMEs in 200 countries. Ambassador for the Get Mentoring Campaign; sits on a number of advisory boards including BIS, NACUE, Surrey Connects, The Gazelle Group.
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| Paulette Randall |
Paulette Randall
Associate Director on the stunning 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Former Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre Company; Chair of Clean Break Theatre Company; Mentor; internationally renowned theatre director; TV credits include Desmond and The Real McCoy.
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| Sandra Roycroft-Davis |
Sandra Roycroft-Davis
Founder of Thinking Slimmer, with proven methodology which is literally changing lives. Previously ran successful management business but retrained in NLP and as a Cognitive hypnotherapist. A behavioural change specialist who is committed to making a big difference.
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| Mary-Anne Rankin |
Mary-Anne Rankin
Mary-Anne Rankin Associates helps businesses anticipate needs of disabled and older customers, ensuring products and services are accessible. Set up ‘Understanding Disability Educational Trust’, which developed ground-breaking educational programmes. Project managed acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Abnormally Funny People’.
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| Sandi Rhys Jones |
Sandi Rhys Jones OBE
Co-founder of Rhys Jones, NED of Simons Group; NED of Engineering and Technology Board; Founder member, Raising the Ratio Task Force at Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; Honorary doctorate from Hallam; Charity Trustee; ‘Constructive Women’ Blogger.
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| Diane Shawe |
Entrepreneur, Author, Founder & CEO of Academy of Vocational and Professional Training, which achieved global accreditation in 2012. Award Winner including Black Business European Woman of the Year; Officer for Conservative Executive Committee Disability Group.
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| Madi Sharma |
Madi Sharma
Founder, Madi Group - private and not for profit companies, creating innovative ideas tailored to local action. Member, European Economic and Social Committee, Brussels. Began first company from home kitchen, grew to 2 factories. Awarded Asian Woman of Achievement; UK’s Best Boss.
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| Atiti Sosimi |
Atiti Sosimi
CEO of Distinctly Different. Serial entrepreneur, lecturer, author, trainer and speaker. As part of passion for enabling the development of others, is author of three motivational books and creator of “Shhh or Tell It” family fun educational board game.
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| Maryon Stewart |
Maryon Stewart
Health pioneer, set up women’s Health Advisory Service. Author of 25 books, appears widely in media. Voted one of the UK’s 5 most inspirational women. Founder of Angelus Foundation, campaigning against ‘legal highs’ in memory of her treasured daughter Hester.
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| Naomi Timperley |
Naomi Timperley
Co Director of Enterprise Lab; Director of Social Media Boom. First business Baby Loves Disco. Turned down investment in Dragon’s Den; much in demand as a speaker; business adviser at Salford University; Youth Enterprise NW volunteer and mentor.
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| Susan Vinnicombe |
Her Research Centre focuses on women leaders; publishes Female FTSE Report. Adviser to many Governments; author of 10 books, 100+ articles and papers. Board member, Saudi British Joint Business Council; Visiting Professor, Curtin University; Graduate Business School, Perth, Australia; Member, Davies Steering Committee.
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| Anne Watts |
Chair of NHS Independent race equality Panel. Career spans Business in the Community, HSBC, NatWest. Board roles at Greater London Enterprise, CEHR, Opportunity Now, Race for Opportunity, Open University; Chair of Appointments Commission. Charity Trustee & Patron.
With grateful thanks to all those who made nominations, especially:
Judith Abraham
Kay Allen OBE
Chriz Bennett
Kenteas Brine
Michelle Doughty
Kate Faragher
Sarah Haywood
Emma Hill
Emma Hill
Dr Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj
Michelle Kilarsky
Una McBride
Jill Pay
Sheetal Radia
Elizabeth Sharma
Elizabeth Sharma
Louise Shenker
Sandra Roycroft-Davis
Chris Summers
Lucy Temple
Precious Vitf
NB The team used their best efforts to choose only free images, should any copyright have been accidentally infringed just let us know and we'll rectify immediately.