Margaret Atwood

The world-renowned author of The Handmaid’s Tale, this literary icon presents a chilling look into a potential future where women’s rights are trampled—and inspires us to speak out and fight for the future we want to see. Drawing on 400 years of women’s history, her work has never been more prescient or essential than today.

Minnijean Brown-Trickey

At only 15, this civil rights legend faced down angry mobs and armed guards to make history by desegregating public schools. As one of the historic Little Rock Nine, she transformed education nationwide—and she didn’t stop there. She’s dedicated her life to fighting for social justice and solidarity, challenging us to participate in the battle for freedom and true equality.

Ellen Ochoa

A lack of women of color role models didn’t stop this STEM pioneer from climbing the ranks to become the first Latina in space, and later director of the Johnson Space Center. Her groundbreaking career has inspired generations of girls and Latinx children, and today, she empowers audiences to break barriers, overcome adversity, champion diversity, and make the world better for those who come after us.

Margot Lee Shetterly

Through her #1 New York Times bestseller Hidden Figures—which became a #1 hit film—this author and entrepreneur revealed the untold stories of the Black women mathematicians who helped NASA get to the moon. In talks, she offers us practical ways to promote equity in STEM fields (and every other area), and gives us a greater understanding of how the history of this country belongs to all of us.

Isabel Allende

The most widely read Spanish-language author in the world, this feminist icon has sold over 77 million books translated into more than 40 languages—including The House of the Spirits—and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. She speaks passionately on the path to true equality, the beauty of the human condition, and the importance of lifting up future generations.

Katy Hessel

The story of art has always excluded women, says this “feminist dynamo” (LA Times). But revealing their contributions today can help us write a better story for the future of art—and every other field. The instant New York Times bestselling author of The Story of Art Without Men, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work championing marginalized communities and telling forgotten stories.

Ashton Applewhite

Everyone is aging. So why are we so afraid of it? Ashton is a leading voice of the emerging anti-ageism movement, and was recognized by the UN and the WHO as one of the Healthy Ageing 50—leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older. In talks, she shows why ageism affects women disproportionately, and how we can create a better world for all ages and genders.

Kristin Neff

Women are often afraid that being kind to themselves is selfish, says this self-compassion pioneer—but in fact, giving yourself what you need actually means you have more to give to everyone else. Drawing on her pioneering research and bestselling books, she shares a simple and actionable guide to succeeding in the workplace, breaking through unjust barriers, and creating necessary change.

Laura Huang

How do we get a competitive “edge” at work and in life? This star business professor says we don’t need to change ourselves—we just need to make the most of who we already are. As director of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Center at Northeastern University, she shows us how to use everything about ourselves—even perceived flaws and systemic biases—to our advantage.

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman

A better world for Black women is a better world for all of us, Anna says. A system that works for our most marginalized communities will work for everyone. As co-founder of the only non-profit addressing the pipeline and pathway problem for Black women in economics, finance, and policy, she is dedicated to intervening in discrimination and ensuring that our solutions lift everyone up.

Jessica Nordell

The most successful organizations have a superpower: they know how to fight bias. As the author of The End of Bias: A Beginning, Jessica offers unique examples from her research—like the law firm that reduced gender bias and saw a 70% growth in revenue. Her “no-blame” approach and practical strategies empower us to create environments where everyone is free to fully contribute.

Sarah Kaplan

We treat innovation as an investment: something difficult but ultimately worthwhile. We could treat diversity, equity, and inclusion the same ways, says this premier MBA professor. As the founding director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy, she shows us how to reposition our social challenges—like gender equality—into innovation challenges that can transform our organization for the better.

What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place on March 8 every year, and serves to celebrate women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. Through talks and events all month long, we shine a light on the women of the past, and draw inspiration from them to ensure a more equitable world for the women of the future. IWD events are an opportunity for us to reflect on these untold stories and commit to creating a better world for everyone.

What’s the history of International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900s. The first National Women’s Day was observed across the United States on February 28, 1909. In 1910, Clara Zetkin raised the idea of an International Women’s Day at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. Over 100 attendees at the conference approved Zetkin’s suggestion. IWD was observed for the first time the following year, as more than a million people attended IWD rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland on March 19, 1911, campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, and hold public office. The United Nations commemorated International Women’s Day for the first time in 1975, and announced their first annual theme in 1996.

Why book an International Women’s Day speaker?

The right International Women’s Day speaker can not only inspire audiences, but also spark real change and action. Whether you’re trying to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, deepen your understanding of our history, or start an open conversation about gender, International Women’s Day speakers can complement and drive the changes you want to see in your organization.

Lavin is proud to represent the world’s leading International Women’s Day speakers. Our top IWD speakers offer powerful stories and actionable strategies that you can put into practice today. Get in touch with us today to bring one of our incredible speakers to your 2024 event.

Watch an exclusive highlight reel of just a few of our International Women’s Day speakers: