International Women’s Day: 9 Women Who’ve Inspired Us

Today marks the 125th anniversary of New Zealand women becoming the first in the world to vote.

To celebrate, we are highlighting a few incredible women in New Zealand who’ve inspired us. Role models, such as the women mentioned below, are critical in steering the development in the right direction. These women are great proof that you can be the change you’d like to see, no matter what drives you, and make an impact that will last.

The list could be even longer. For that reason, we’ve included an overview of a few other worth-reading articles highlighting amazing women around the world at the end of this post.

Kate Sheppard, contributing to winning the right for women to vote

I feel proud and in awe that it took this courageous woman to take on the world as the leader of Women’s Suffrage movement in New Zealand, to win the right for women to vote. She’s encouraged the fight for equal rights for women all over the world.

Kate successfully advocated for women’s suffrage and her efforts were key behind New Zealand becoming the first country to establish universal suffrage. Kate has been of significant importance to NZ history and has been widely acknowledged across the country. Several places are named after her and in 1991, she replaced Queen Elizabeth II on the front of the New Zealand ten-dollar note.

Theresa Gattung, the first woman to run a large NZ public company

Theresa was the first woman to run a large New Zealand public company. During her tenure as CEO, Gattung led Telecom NZ through world-changing technology developments and the evolution of the business from a traditional company, to the number one IT provider in New Zealand.

In 2013, Theresa co-founded My Food Bag, with the goal to ‘bring inspiring, nutritionally-balanced tasty recipes and the best of New Zealand seasonal produce together and deliver it to your home’. My Food Bag has a turnover of around NZ$130 million today. Theresa also co-founded the World Women Charitable Trust in 2015, a forum for women to share knowledge, look at issues differently and question the status quo. Moreover, she holds a number of governance positions and is engaged in several networks such as Global Women.

Helen Clark, former PM and “one of the world’s most powerful women”

In my opinion, Helen Clark is one of the smartest PM’s to have led our country. She always stood her ground to represent NZ on the global stage in true David & Goliath style during her leadership, despite pressure. She set the standard for the rest of the world in terms of New Zealand’s progressive and positive approach to peace, development and education. In 2009, Helen resigned from Parliament in order to take up the post of Administrator of the UN Development Programme.

This week, Helen held a speech in front of politicians, industry leaders and young women at the Parliament for International Women’s Day, where she encouraged women to “kick the door in” and the audience in general to “never think your little bit doesn’t make a difference.” She has been ranked one of the world’s most powerful women by Forbes more than once and is one of my personal heroes.

Pania Tyson-Nathan, transforming NZ Maori Tourism

Pania waves the flag as the champion for NZ Maori tourism in New Zealand, as well as internationally. She is considered to be one of the most powerful and influential Māori wāhine in the business industry. In her role as a Chief Executive at Māori Tourism, she has helped to transform the Māori sector of the business by providing experiences that open doors to a deeper cultural understanding.

In addition to her achievements at Māori Tourism NZ (where Black Label, of course, is a member), Pania is co-leader of the Māori exporters collective, Māori Inc and a director on the Kahungunu Asset Holding Company. She also holds a membership in several entities, such as the Māori Economic board.

Louisa Patterson, pioneer of the Air Tourism industry in Queenstown

Louisa, aka CHOPPY, owns the heli space in Queenstown. In 1986 she founded Over The Top, which was the first stake in the ground to showcase NZ’s raw beauty to visitors by utilising helicopters. It is apparent how this business has taken off, literally, and firmly entrenched when you hear the inimitable sounds of chopper rotary blades, engines and see the sky filled with helicopters in Queenstown taking tourists on an exciting heli adventure.

Louisa holds the roles of Chief Pilot and CEO of the company, as well as an HAI Gold award and a NZHA Platinum award for more than 25 years and over 10,000 hours of safe flying.

Lisa King, on the mission to ensure that no child goes hungry at school

Lisa King is the founder of Eat My Lunch (EML), a New Zealand business driven by a social purpose, to ensure that no child goes hungry at school. Since the start in June 2015, they have given over 650,000 lunches to kids in 64 schools in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington. EML is addressing a problem that was discussed by many, but where initiatives to improve the situation were lacking, and the results they’ve achieved already are impressive.

At Black Label, we recently announced a partnership with EML to support their important mission, which you can read more about here.

Vivien Sutherland Bridgwater, driving change and innovation

Vivien headed up Auckland Tourism Destination Marketing (ATEED) for 2 years and has many years of experience from senior management and governance roles in important New Zealand organisations and enterprises. Vivien is a personal friend of mine, and I’ve always been amazed by her ability to succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. Often in challenging roles that require innovation and implementation of significant changes, across a variety of sectors.

Dame Pieter Stewart, founder of NZ Fashion Week

This annual event is now an institution in NZ and a highlight on Auckland’s calendar. The key to this success, in my opinion, has been Dame Pieter’s unwavering vision, tenacity, and drive, which has come to see her as the most ardent promoter of NZ’s fashion industry.

She has been responsible for successfully setting up NZFW, the only industry platform to showcase our local fashion to the world’s fashion buyers. On International Womens Day, Dame Pieter was inducted into Company of Women’s Hall of Fame.  She says that time with her grandchildren, meditation and jazz music helps her to balance and perform well. We salute you.

Lorde, NZ’s youngest and most successful international pop star

Lorde is one of NZ’s most successful singers, and became an international star with her hits ‘Royals’ and ‘Team’.  I saw her perform at Coachella festival last year. It was amazing to see her owning the mainstage at the prime time on the Saturday night, while everyone sang along to her songs. Lorde has received multiple awards as a proof of her talent; two Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, one MTV Video Music Award and three World Music Awards are just a few impressive examples.

Other great articles highlighting amazing women around the world:

 

• Most inspiring famous women from the last decade by Mirror
• Inspiring women share top tips for success by The Independent
• International women give career advice by The Huffington Post
• Here are the women who inspire us this International Women’s Day by CNET
• Iconic images of women by BBC