Women’s Day 2021: Who has inspired our employees?

What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than to reflect on some of the amazing women who inspire us? To mark the day we asked our female employees to share their own female role models. The result is an impressive roster of athletes, policiticians, activists, celebrities, and even a muppet.

Selena Quintanilla

The woman who inspires me is Selena Quintanilla. Today, Latina’s are viewed as sassy, fiery and women who don’t care what others think, and while that is all true, I think it takes real strength to possess these qualities. Selena was a force to be reckoned with, even when musical producers said she wouldn’t make it, she took that negativity and turned it into something amazing and in 1994 she won Best Mexican/ American Album at the Grammy Awards making her the first recording female Tejano artist to do so.
—Yumi Kurijada, Office Administrator

Julie Angus

I was fortunate to see Julie Angus speak at an event we hosted a few years ago. For those of you that don’t know who she is, Julie is the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland, organized a National Geographic expedition to research the origins of the olive tree, and travelled 7,000 km by rowboat and bicycle from Scotland to Syria. It’s always so great to see a woman display such raw physical and emotional strength.
—Carolien Dekeersmaeker, Director of Customer Success

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

My maternal Icelandic heritage has always inspired me, as do women who hold high positions of power in government.
Environmentalist and feminist Katrín Jakobsdóttir became Iceland’s Prime Minister in 2017 and fights for gender equality and equal pay.
She leads with wisdom, empathy and compassion and is a true inspiration to many.
—Julie Robinson, People Operations Manager

Fearne Cotton

Fearne Cotton has been in my life since I was 3, appearing on children’s TV, hosting Top of the Pops (check it out if you want some ultimate 90’s nostalgia) and other tv and radios shows as I grew up. She now has her own podcast called ‘Happy Place’ where she talks with friends, celebrities and ‘non-celebrity but really inspiring people’ about how they unlock their inner happiness. There are all types of conversations, from mental health, to physical health, relationships with people, food and social media. The way she has opened up about her mental and physical health has inspired me to take control of my mental health and help find my happy place. It’s so refreshing to hear another woman talk about issues that you think only you have, when actually, we’re all thinking the same thing!
—Corinne Kirtland, Account Executive

Gloria Steinem

It’s hard to pick just one woman who inspires me, but one that has been on my mind lately is Gloria Steinem. She was an iconic figure in the 60-70s feminist movement in New York. Through her writing, activism, and her co-founded media platform, she fought for the opportunity for women to be heard and seen. What I particularly admire about her, is her public speaking abilities. She is so calm, articulate, and assertive! One of my favorite quotes from her: “[…] without a doubt, revolutionary feminism is the only path to humanism.”
—Petra Radic, Marketing Manager

Miss Piggy

Since stepping into the limelight in the mid 70’s, Miss Piggy has been reminding me (and the rest of the world) that with a little grit, fortitude, and the occasional karate-chop, women can achieve whatever they want in this world. Miss Piggy doesn’t mind the word bossy because she IS the boss. She is unapologetically defiant, loud, bold, and refuses to accept any of society’s notions for how a woman should look or act. She also doesn’t need a man (or frog) to complete her, even if her heart belongs to Kermit.
—Kelly Batke, Senior Content Writer

What women are inspiring you on Women’s Day?