In celebration of International Women's Day, we wanted to shine a (very) bright light on influential women across the world. From activists to poets, to some of the most well-known household names in show business, influential women are everywhere we look.
Although we could probably name hundreds, we’ve narrowed it down to our top 10 (but, in no particular order) influential women of 2022.
Elizabeth Day
An English novelist and Journalist, Elizabeth Day is well-known for her podcast “How To Fail” where she (completely) normalises the trials and tribulations that we go through in everyday life. Her podcast allows her guests to have absolute vulnerability, often shedding light (and well-needed humour) on a ton of situations.
She is also a published author, with her novel Magpie already reaching “Sunday Times Bestseller” status. Alongside her accolades as a writer and podcast host, she is incredibly active on social media regarding movements such as BLM, gender equality, and humanitarian issues globally.
Rupi Kaur
If you haven’t seen Rupi’s poems grace your Instagram feed yet, do you even have Instagram!? Rupi Kaur is a globally renowned Canadian poet for her simplistic, eye-catching, and thought-provoking poems which are typically about the female experience, womanhood, love, and loss.
Her poetic style has been criticised for falling outside of the “traditional” styles, but this is what we believe makes her so unique. With multiple poetry books published, a following of 4.4M, and a global world tour - Rupi has only just started her journey at the age of 29!
Munroe Bergdorf
Munroe is a British model and activist. She rose to prominence after being dropped by L'Oréal for highlighting racism that she had experienced, particularly as a Trans Woman. Since, she works closely with L'Oréal from a D&I perspective, as well as being a consistent voice for trans black women, particularly in the UK.
She uses her Instagram platform to speak on a number of social issues globally, as well as consistently debunking myths and “fake news” about the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole. Munroe is also a published author of “Transitional: How To Live Your Authentic Life” which is a national bestseller!
Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda is the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand and has been noted as a “hero” for her proactivity during the 2020 pandemic. She was one of few leaders globally who put robust measures in place to protect the economy and its citizens of New Zealand and continues to be a popular public figure in the political sphere. From her proactivity on vaccines through to reassuring speeches, Jacinda was the definition of “practice what you preach” during the most unsettling period the world ever saw!
Emma Watson
From Harry Potter’s “Hermione” to activist and women’s rights campaigner, Emma Watson is an open feminist and has spoken at multiple conferences and summits, as well as using her platform to advocate for marginalised groups as well as charities and organisations.
Despite retiring from acting, she continues to be active in the public eye as an activist and remains one of the most influential and famous British women of all time. She is one of many high-profile celebrities who have used their influence for social and political good.
Charlene Hunter
Charlene Hunter is one of the most influential women in the tech industry, as well as the CEO and Founder of Coding Black Females.
From running boot camps for black women who aspire to be coders, to sitting on academic boards for universities and having a wealth of experience in Software herself, Charlene has an incredible presence and is entirely changing the game for women in Tech!
AOC
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known as “AOC” is one of the most well-known (if not the most) politicians in the USA right now.
You may remember her iconic “tax the rich” dress at the Met Gala through to her inclusive, progressive approach to politics, AOC has been an individual who has seemingly always been “for the people” as opposed to a political agenda.
She is regularly quoted in pop culture due to her refreshing, no-frills stance on often complex and controversial issues!
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who rose to prominence as a teenager when she delivered multiple speeches at summits and conferences to some of the most influential global leaders about the climate crisis that we are going through globally.
Often criticised for being “too young” to speak on such complex issues, Greta defied all odds and is now a globally renowned individual in the climate space. At 19, Greta uses her platforms to comment on more than just climate change - and is vocal about social justice on a global scale.
Simone Biles
Simone Biles is an American gymnast and Olympian who catapulted into the spotlight in the past decade! At just 24, she holds 7 Olympic medals as well as several records.
In the summer of 2021, she made headlines after leaving the finals of the Tokyo Olympics and paved the way for open conversation regarding mental health in gymnastics, as well as the physical toll that it can take on you. She has advocated for many social justice issues and is an inspiration to young black women in the world of gymnastics.
Poppy Gustafsson
Poppy is the CEO of Darktrace PLC, a company that leads in Autonomous Cyber AI. Her work has been significant when looking at gender diversity, as well as the amount that she has achieved during her tenure as CEO.
Darktrace is valued at 3bn in the stock market, which is a testament to her leadership, strategy, and overall passion for the organisation.
We’d like to wish all of you a happy International Women’s Day, and make sure that you celebrate the special women in your life - from friends to family, to even someone you’ve just met who has made an impact on your life.
