Social Media is full of thought provoking, innovative and influential people. However, through all the social media noise it can be difficult to identify those trailblazers who are revolutionising our environments. From a range of industries these women are designers, innovators, workplace specialists, motivators, bloggers, disrupters, digital influencers, technology gurus, and forward thinkers.
In no particular order, we’ve rounded up our favourite ten influential women in technology and innovation who are making a name for themselves on social media:
1. Sara Bean – Contributing Editor, Workplace Insight and FMJ
Twitter I Twitter 2 I LinkedIn
Sara is a journalist and editor who has written for and edited a number of business to business publications. She writes, blogs and tweets daily on workplace issues covering facilities management, sustainability and the wider employer/employee workplace relationship. She is currently Consulting Editor for Workplace Insight, the UK’s most widely read website dedicated to the design and management of workplaces. She is also Editor of Facilities Management Journal (FMJ) the leading educational resource for the facilities management sector, which covers the latest trends, news and legislative updates from the FM marketplace.
2. AnneClaire Van Not – Innovation Specialists, Cancer Research
Anneclaire is a driven, creative innovator who is currently future proofing Cancer Research UK’s research funding to bring forward the day all cancers are cured. Prior to that, she worked as a Consultant for DXC Technologies and as a Research Associate for the Leading Edge Forum (LEF). For her work with DXC and the LEF, Anneclaire was awarded the WATC Rising Star Technology award. Anneclaire holds an MSc International Health Management from Imperial College London. When she is not working, you can find her experimenting with the latest gadgets (from flying drones to at-home DNA tests) or playing field hockey.
3. Katherine Henry – Blogger, Digital Influencer & Plus Size Model
Katherine is a digital and social media influencer, content creator and online blogger, she empowers women with her motivational content and keynote speeches. Katherine established a lifestyle, fashion and beauty blog to promote body confidence. Among her many accolades Kathrine has Won the National title of Ms British Beauty Curve, Miss British Beauty Curve and has been appointed as an Ambassador of Ms Curvaceous UK. “I want to inspire other women and show them that they should love their bodies no matter what, you can be beautiful at any size.”
4. Tracey Groves – Founder and Director, Intelligent Ethics Ltd
As the Founder and Director of her advisory business, Intelligent Ethics, Tracey is passionate about helping leaders define and embrace what ‘doing the right thing’ means to them using behaviours, culture and trustworthiness as critical levers for change. Through her work she enables organisations to unlock high performance and business integrity by designing and developing enhanced risk-based corporate governance frameworks with business ethics and values at their heart. TEDx Talk “Trust your Gut”
5. Penny Haslam, Award Winning Inspirational Speaker, Visibility Coach and Consultant
Penny Haslam is an award winning speaker who truly engages, inspires and entertains her audiences. She offers bespoke talks, keynotes, lunch and learns and plenary sessions for events, as well as training and courses. A former BBC business journalist and TV presenter, she has worked at the highest levels of national broadcasting on BBC Breakfast, the News Channel; and as a producer, reporter and presenter on Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live. With journalistic rigour and on-stage warmth, she’s also a successful and regularly booked conference and panel chair who helps create intelligent, engaging and memorable events. Penny is a TEDx speaker on the Power of Visibility and was awarded Speaker of the Year 2016 by her professional association, the PSA UK.
6. Sarah Hodge, MSc CBIFM – Strategic Workplace & Facilities Man expert
Sarah has 25 year’s Facilities Management, Workplace Change and Business transformation experience with a variety of prestigious organisations including; Britvic, Canary Wharf Ltd, Lloyds of London, Swiss Re insurance and Citex. She is an active member with BIFM and has been a Lead Award judge for 5 years. Sarah has served on BIFM council, London Regional, CPD and Workplace SIG Member. Following her operational career Sarah is now an independent consultant, Collaborates with FMP360 well as an Associate at The FM Guru consultancy.
7. Rachel Reese – CEO for Global Butterflies, Vice Chair Law Society LGBT Solicitors Division
Rachel was recruited and trained from university by GEC Marconi Avionics Ltd (BAE Systems) as an Avionics Software Engineer. She transferred to a senior position within the human resources function, initially recruiting and training technical personnel to support the mechanical, electronic and software areas of the business. Presently, Rachel runs Global Butterflies, a consultancy that helps businesses to create trans* inclusive environments for both their staff and clients. She is Vice Chair of The Law Society LGBT Lawyers Division Committee representing trans* solicitors working within the legal profession. Rachel is a Trans Ambassador for Aspiring Solicitors and a member of the InterComms LGBT committee.
8. Dorothea Gosling – Global Head Pursuit Marketing Demand Generation Programs, DXC Technology
Part of DXC Technology’s Global Brand, Demand and Digital Marketing Team, Dorothea leads Pursuit Marketing Demand Generation Programs. She has been practicing Account Based Marketing for over ten years, and has successfully pioneered the use of several emerging ABM technology categories in her ongoing quest for ABM excellence and the evolution of the practice as a whole. Her deep expertise in large deal marketing, marketing strategy, stakeholder management and all other aspects of integrated marketing and communications planning and execution helps her build high-performance teams that successfully engage with sales and the wider MarComm teams; delivering tangible business results. Dorothea’s work is being recognised externally, and she regularly speaks at industry events and forums.
9. Theresa Farrenson – Technology Business Partner, Aon, Founder & Co-Chair, LGBT Insurance Network
Theresa is a technology professional with varied experience within the Insurance Industry from business analysis to IT Relationship Management. Theresa has passion for Diversity and Inclusion and how it can be leveraged for economic gain and competitive advantage. Diverse teams = Diverse ideas + strong decision making. Theresa is a founder and co-chair of LGBT Insurance Network, a professional network for LGBT insurance professionals, their colleagues and friends. Link has over 650 members who work in claims, underwriting, actuarial, broking, public relations, IT, sustainability, law and accountancy – representing over 220 firms from insurers/reinsurers, brokers, market bodies to service providers.
10. Jackie Furey – Director, Where We Work Ltd and Chair of WiFM
An experienced Workplace consultant, Jackie specialises in change management, design and has a passion for understanding new ways of working. She is the co-owner of Where We Work and with over 18 years’ experience in the FM industry, she is a well-rounded individual within Workplace Consultancy and excels in Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Accounting, across varying business sectors. She holds integrity, empathy and trustworthiness at the core of all everything she does. Jackie has strong business development, and man management skills, coupled with a natural ability to build long and lasting relationships with customers, colleagues, and suppliers. Jackie is a member of the Women in FM committee (which is a part of Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management), and was recently appointed Chair of WiFM special interest group.
