March 8 is International Womens Day 2016 a chance for us all to celebrate the significant contributions made by women to economic, political, cultural and social achievement.
Some would argue it shouldnt need “a day” in order to be cordially acknowledged, and you may agree. But at least International Womens Day (IWD) hands us all an opportunity to officially celebrate female contributions towards every aspect of life.
While this years theme focusses heavily on the campaign for global gender parity, the initiative as with every year features a healthy programme of events, forums, festivals and breakfasts profiling the work of special women, highlighting how theyre making differences.
The business world provides endless examples of females blazing a trail entrepreneurs, owner managers, small business leaders. The UK is awash with unsung, but game-changing female talent, so here we look at a few of the women making waves in the business world.
Natalie Campbell
At 31, Campbell is on the board of the Big Lottery Fund, a trustee of social entrepreneur group UnLtd, a director of west London business incubator Kensington Creates and thats just in her spare time.
Co-founder of the brilliantly-named A Very Good Company, her work involves helping major clients like M&S, Channel 4 and Virgin Media become better engaged in sustainability initiatives.
Verity Harding
Another relative baby in business years, at 30 Harding currently leads Googles charge to eradicate online extremism. She got there partly due to her willingness to ditch the public sector for private following up a stint as Nick Cleggs special adviser to join Google UK in 2013 as public policy manager.
She has degrees from both Oxford and Harvard, and currently sits on the advisory board of Women on Boards UK.
Katherine Ryan's journey from Hooters Girl to controversial superstar
Kelly-Anne Byres
Byres is nothing short of a business phenomenon, starting her first company aged 24, before co-founding another that now boasts a turnover pushing 1m.
The first, KBL Accounts, caters for more than 200 clients, while her Poppy Nursing and Care Services which offers the work of care assistants to hospital trusts and care homes employs almost 100 staff over 3 UK centres.
Alexandra Smyth
Theres something to be said for making a good impression with your clients, you never know where it might lead. In Alexandra Smyths case, it led to publisher RELX Group poaching her from underneath the noses of the city law firm from which she was representing them.
Now with her feet well and truly under the table at the FTSE100 firm as general counsel, corporate and M&A, she oversees up to 100 lawyers while also finding the time to pen an inspiring legal publication.
Lisa Humphreys
Jointly responsible for 970m of brand media investment at Mediacom, you could say Lisa Humphreys holds some sway as its youngest, and only female, elite trading division member.
A board member, she now has control of Out of Home, its business arm worth 75m and also manages the delivery of two contracts worth around 81m a year. At 34, she represents one of the UK media sectors most ambitious players.
Emma Kendrew
The fact Emma Kendrew is known as a role model for the female graduates at global professional services company Accenture where she leads Fuels Retail Practice strategy shows exactly why shes somebody to celebrate, this IWD.
At 34, she already has 10 years experience under her belt leading big-ticket corporate projects, and is now addressing problems faced by the fuel industry through mobile and cloud-based solutions.
Concerned with issues surrounding gender diversity in business Don’t miss the Real Business First Women programme:
Drawing on years of the First Women movement and the phenomenal network of pioneering women the Awards has created, this programme features The First Women Awards and The First Women Summit ? designed to educate, mentor and inspire women in all levels of business.
