Today is International Women’s Day and what better way to celebrate all things girl power than to reflect on some of the best #girlbosses from around the globe.
While we are all for celebrating the brilliance of women 365 days of the year, it’s movements such as International Women’s Day which bring issues such as gender equality to the forefront and spark conversation around change. Companies such as Trilogy are helping to lead the charge, with CEO Angela Buglass and CFO Lindsay Render at the helm of a business which boasts and 85% female workforce. The company has also entered into a partnership with not-for-profit organisation, So They Can, which assists in the empowerment of disadvantaged women in Kenya and Tanzania.
Here are more inspirational women shattering the glass ceiling and doing the sisterhood proud. Happy International Women’s Day!
1. Diane von Furstenberg
Diane von Furstenberg rose to fame with the creation of her iconic jersey wrap dress in 1974 and was declared “the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel” by Newsweek magazine shortly after. Now, at age 69, she continues to operate as a successful businesswoman and fashion designer, inspiring young women globally with her words of wisdom (her autobiography, The Woman I Wanted to Be, is a must-read).
2. Karen Walker
As the only New Zealand designer to show bi-annually at New York Fashion Week, Karen Walker is an international force to be reckoned with. Her iconic use of playful imagery and cult eyewear line worn by the likes of Gigi Hadid, Adele and Lady Gaga are completely unrivalled.
3. Sophia Amoruso
The original #Girlboss, Sophia Amoruso is the powerhouse CEO behind mega fashion e-store NastyGal.com. Starting out selling vintage finds on eBay, Amoruso grew her business from strength to strength and as well as being named the fastest growing online retailer in 2012, now also has two gigantic bricks and mortar stores to her name.
4. Mimi Gilmour
Hospitality guru Mimi Gilmour, responsible for wildly popular restaurants Mexico, Burger Burger and now Fish Fish, was also recently appointed Jaguar XE Ambassador for New Zealand. From tantalising our taste buds to setting the standard in luxury cars – Gilmour does it all with style.
5. Natalie Massenet
The brains behind online fashion retailer Net-a-Porter.com, Natalie Massenet, built the website from the ground up long before luxury brands even imagined selling their product online. Massenet started the web store from her apartment in west London, setting up office in her dining room and storing shoe boxes in her bath tub!
6. Jacinda Ardern
From small beginnings in the town of Murupara, Jacinda Ardern made her way up the rankings in the Labour Party to become their Auckland CBD candidate and also the youngest member in Parliament!
7. Tina Fey
Since her debut on Saturday Night Live, comedy queen Tina Fey has gone on to write, produce and star in a number of movies that have won her numerous Golden Globe and Emmy Awards. Her autobiography topped the New York Times Best Seller list for five weeks in a row and she also hosted the Golden Globe Awards for three years running.
8. Christine Sharma
Managing Director of local fashion label RUBY, Christine Sharma has grown the brand exponentially since she took over in 2008. From humble beginnings on Auckland’s High Street, RUBY now boasts ten boutiques across the country and Christine has also solidified RUBY as the first women’s fashion label to open a duty free store at Auckland International Airport.
9. Emma Watson
After years of playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, Emma Watson began splitting her time across acting, studying at Brown and Oxford Universities and fronting campaigns for brands including Lancôme and Burberry. In 2014, Watson was selected as a UN ambassador to launch the campaign ‘HeforShe’ which aims to create knowledge and spark action around gender inequality.
10. Beyoncé
Last but certainly not least, Beyoncé. From lead singer of the top selling girl band of all time to Forbes’ most powerful female musician of 2015 – Beyoncé is an entertainer like no other. Her chart-topping, Grammy award-winning tunes scream female empowerment and as Queen B. herself once said: “Who run the world? Girls.”
