What does power look like now?
It demands the ability to inspire, and the clout to change the conversation. Drawing from the worlds of politics, fashion, the arts, media and sport, we showcase a few inspirational women. There was quite a few omissions as the choice was abundant.
Celebrating International Women's Day - #BalanceforBetter.
Laura Muir
Laura Muir is a Scottish middle-distance runner. She specialises in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m. She is the 2018 European champion in the 1500 metres, a two-time 2017 European Indoor champion, winning the 1500m/3000m double, a feat repeated in 2019, and a two-time 2018 World Indoor Championship medallist, with silver at 1500m and bronze at 3000m. Muir is a 2 time Diamond League champion in 1500 metres, winning in 2016 on the original points format, and again in 2018 when she won the Diamond League Final in the new championship format.
Hannah Anderson
Hannah Anderson is the greatest social-media influencer you’ve never heard of. As co-founder of Manchester-based company Social Chain, the 26-year-old is behind some of the most successful social-media marketing strategies for the world’s biggest brands, including Apple and Amazon.
Her pitch-perfect memes and hashtags – such as #findit for Nike, which reached more than 20 million consumers – make her key to unlocking a millennial audience.
Olivia Wollenberg
A London entrepreneur defied her business tutor’s advice that her range of free-from treats would “never take off” to build a £1 million company. Olivia Wollenberg, 30, launched Livia’s Kitchen in 2014 having grown up with several food intolerances and finding there was little choice of “indulgent treat” she was able to eat.
By 2017, she was stocked in 30 high street retailers, increasing that to 2,000 in 12 months. Livia’s Kitchen can be found in Tesco, Ocado, WHSmith, Planet Organic and Wholefoods Market. The company has seen growth of 153 per cent year-on-year, with turnover hitting well over £1 million last year.
JK Rowling
It’s more than 20 years since JK Rowling brought Harry Potter into our lives, but his – and her – power over us remain undimmed. While audiences flock to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, this autumn brings the film sequel to Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (part one took £85 million at the British box office). No surprise that 52-year-old Rowling is now the world’s highest-paid author. A generation belongs to her.
Jane Geraghty
Jane brings proven leadership and global understanding to her role as Landor’s chief executive officer. Having spent four years as Landor’s president of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Jane excels at working with brands big and small across established and emerging markets.
She has logged more than 20 years in advertising and media on both sides of the Atlantic at agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann, and Ogilvy & Mather. Jane is highly regarded for her ability to develop strong, collaborative partnerships with clients and for her expertise leading successful cross-regional teams.
