15 Female Motivational Speakers: Life-Changing Lessons

Introduction

Women motivational speakers turn life’s battles into fuel for your fire. Whether it’s breaking through barriers or chasing big dreams, their stories are inspiring.

But when it comes to booking a speaker…

Are they the right focus for your organization?

In this article, we’ll list some of the top female speakers who can motivate any audience. Next we’ll discuss some of the top subjects these speakers focus on.

With so many talented speakers and with such a wide range of topics, we hope that this article serves as a helpful roadmap to help you plan for a successful speaking event.

Let’s get into it!

The Top 15 Female Motivational Speakers For Your Next Event

Let’s start off with some great options you can book for your next event. See anyone you like on the list? Just click the button below and reach out to us!

1. Barbara Corcoran

Real estate mogul and a “Shark Tank” investor, Corcoran speaks about entrepreneurship, business growth, and overcoming challenges. Learn More

2. Eleanor Clift

Political reporter, television pundit, and author, Clift speaks on American politics, women in leadership, and media. Learn More

3. Amy Purdy

Paralympic bronze medalist and motivational speaker, Purdy talks about overcoming adversity and living a life without limits. Learn More

4. Carey Lohrenz

The first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy, Lohrenz focuses on high-performance teams and leadership. Learn More

5. Sally Hogshead

A branding expert and Hall of Fame speaker, Hogshead teaches audiences how to fascinate and captivate in personal and professional communications. Learn More

6. Polly LaBarre

Co-author and founding member of Fast Company Magazine, LaBarre speaks about innovation, leadership, and organizational change. Learn More

7. Lauren Bush Lauren

CEO, Co-Founder of FEED Projects, and model, she talks about social entrepreneurship and how to combine business with social justice. Learn More

8. Sonia Nazario

Award-winning journalist and author, Nazario is known for her work on immigration and human rights. Learn More

9. Donna Brazile

Veteran political strategist and former interim Chair of the DNC, Brazile speaks on political issues, strategy, and women in politics. Learn More

10. Jade Simmons

Classical pianist and motivational speaker, Simmons uses music as a metaphor to encourage creativity and boundless potential. Learn More

11. Mel Robbins

Author of “The 5 Second Rule” and motivational speaker, Robbins talks about personal development, motivation, and confidence. Learn More

12. Juliet Funt

CEO of WhiteSpace at Work, she speaks on productivity, simplifying work processes, and reclaiming creativity. Learn More

13. Christine Porath

An associate professor and author, Porath focuses on workplace incivility and how to foster respect and a positive environment at work. Learn More

14. Sekou Andrews

Poetic voice, and an inspirational speaker, Andrews uses spoken word to inspire and ignite change. Learn More

15. Dr. Ramani Durvasula

Licensed clinical psychologist and professor, she is known for her expertise on narcissism and speaks on mental health and relationships. Learn More

Women Motivational Speaking: Types Of Keynote Topics

You’ve decided you want a female speaker to come to your event and motivate your audience. Great! But before you go and book that speaker, let’s give you some more context so you can book the right speaker for your audience.

Some of the most common topics we hear are about are Leadership, Gender Barriers, Balancing Family and Career, Financial Literacy, Emotional Intelligence (EI), Mental Health and Entrepreneurship.

Let’s take each one by one, and delve deeper so you can make the most informed decision for your next event.

Topic: Empowering Women in Leadership

Women leaders bring unique perspectives and diverse approaches to problem-solving, fostering an inclusive and innovative environment in any organization. They exemplify strength, resilience, and empathy, which are essential qualities for effective leadership.

Female motivational speakers, in our experience, tend to speak on 3 areas within leadership topic: overcoming challenges, leadership strategies and empowering others.

• Overcoming Challenges

Women in leadership positions often face stereotypes and biases. Speakers emphasize the importance of challenging these stereotypes and assertively positioning oneself as a capable leader, regardless of gender.

Understanding and navigating the complex dynamics of traditionally male-dominated environments is crucial. Women motivational speakers share strategies for effective negotiation, asserting authority, and earning respect in any professional setting.

• Leadership Strategies for Women

Leadership speakers often discuss how to blend assertiveness with empathy, and decisiveness with collaboration, to create an effective leadership approach.

Establishing strong support networks and seeking mentorship are crucial steps for women aiming for leadership roles. Women speakers stress the importance of finding mentors who can provide guidance and support throughout one’s career journey.

Balancing professional responsibilities with personal life is a significant challenge for many women. Motivational speakers offer insights into managing time effectively, setting priorities, and maintaining personal well-being while pursuing leadership goals.

• Empowering Others

Successful women leaders have the power to pave the way for others. Women motivational speakers often talk about the importance of lifting up other women, offering opportunities, and creating an environment where women can thrive.

Being a role model for other women in the organization is a powerful way to inspire and empower. Speakers highlight how leading by example can encourage more women to aspire to and achieve leadership positions.

Topic: Overcoming Gender Barriers in the Workplace

Overcoming gender barriers in the workplace is a multifaceted challenge that many women face, and women motivational speakers often shed light on this issue through their own experiences. These barriers can take various forms, such as unequal pay, lack of representation in leadership roles, or biased workplace policies.

• Unequal Pay

For instance, a speaker might share her journey of negotiating for equal pay, highlighting strategies like researching industry standards, presenting one’s achievements confidently, and seeking mentorship or support from colleagues. Here is a real-life example from Jo Cribb from her speech at TEDxWellington.

• Lack Of Representation In Leadership Roles

Another common barrier is the underrepresentation of women in executive positions. Women motivational speakers often discuss how they navigated corporate ladders amidst gender stereotypes. By detailing these experiences, they offer valuable insights into how women can carve out leadership roles for themselves, demonstrating the importance of persistence, networking, and strategic visibility in the workplace.

• Gender Bias

Gender bias in workplace policies, such as those regarding maternity leave or flexible working hours, is another area where women motivational speakers provide guidance. This speaking topic might advocate for policy changes based on their advocacy work or experience in HR roles.

Lastly, women motivational speakers frequently emphasize the importance of creating supportive networks to combat gender barriers. They encourage seeking out or establishing mentorship programs, women-centric professional groups, and allies within the workplace.

• Additional Examples

Here is a table showing an example of each sub topic and what you might expect from a female motivational speaker who focuses on gender barriers:

Topic	Description	Strategies/Actions
Unequal Pay	A speaker shares her journey of negotiating for equal pay.	Researching industry standards, presenting one’s achievements confidently, seeking mentorship or support from colleagues.
Leadership	Recounting instances of asserting leadership in male-dominated boardroom meetings or initiating diversity programs.	Asserting leadership in meetings, initiating diversity programs within organizations.
Gender Bias	Discussion on campaigning for extended parental leave.	Building a case, rallying support, engaging in dialogue with decision-makers.

Topic: Balancing Family and Career

Balancing family and career is a tightrope walk many women navigate daily. The best motivational speeches we’ve seen from women draw from their personal life experiences.

One of our team members recently booked a speaker who wow’d the audience with their step-by-step, practical take on this topic. Here are some key points they spoke about, so that you can get a flavor of what this might look like for your organization!

Family and Career (Real Life!) Speech Example:

1. Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that ‘perfect balance’ is a myth. Embrace a more flexible approach to managing your time and responsibilities. Recognizing that some days will be more family-focused while others will lean towards work commitments is key.
2. Prioritize Tasks and Delegate: Identify tasks that require your direct attention and those that can be delegated or postponed. This doesn’t mean shirking responsibilities but rather managing them more effectively. For instance, if work requires your immediate attention, delegate household chores or vice versa.
3. Create a Support System: Building a network of support, both professionally and personally, is crucial. This could mean having a reliable babysitter, a supportive partner, understanding colleagues, or a mentor. A strong support system can provide practical help and emotional backing.
4. Establish Boundaries: Setting clear boundaries includes having specific work hours and family time, and communicating these boundaries to your colleagues and family members. For example, not checking emails during family dinners or allocating certain hours strictly for work.
5. Time Management Techniques: Adopt effective time management strategies like the Eisenhower Box to prioritize tasks. This involves categorizing tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important.
6. Self-Care is Non-Negotiable: Prioritizing self-care is vital. It isn’t selfish to take time for yourself. It’s necessary for maintaining energy and focus. This could mean engaging in a hobby, exercising, or simply taking a short break to recharge.
7. Embrace Flexibility in the Workplace: If possible, negotiate flexible working hours or remote work arrangements with your employer. This flexibility can significantly ease the pressure of balancing family and career responsibilities.
8. Communicate Openly with Your Family: Keep an open line of communication with your family about your career demands and listen to their needs. This mutual understanding can help in managing expectations and responsibilities.
9. Utilize Technology for Efficiency: Make the most of technology to streamline tasks. This can include using productivity apps for work or family management apps to keep track of household activities.
10. Regularly Reevaluate Your Balance: Regularly assess your work-life balance. What works today might not work tomorrow, so be prepared to adjust your strategies as your family and career evolve.

Now let’s turn our attention to another great topic that often goes under appreciated: Financial Literacy.

Topic: Financial Literacy for Women

Some of our favorite speeches at Gotham involve how to take control of your personal finances. It’s not just about making money but knowing how to manage and grow it – and so much more.

Here’s a list of key areas some of our speakers have discussed over the years.

• Creating a Budget

Tracking income and expenses is so important! It’s about knowing where your money is going and making conscious decisions to control your financial future. A well-planned budget leads to fewer financial surprises and more stability.

• Saving and Investing

Saving is vital, but investing is where the real growth happens. Here’s an example of a personal story of how investing has helped Lauren Templeton secure her financial future (hint: starting early and being consistent is key!)

• Other Financial Literacy Topic Options

There are a wide range of sub topic available to event planners and businesses looking to give their teams a primer on personal finance. Below we’ll summarize a few additional options available to consider when booking your next speaker.

Topic	Description	Key Points
Understanding Credit and Debt	Credit can be a double-edged sword, with its understanding pivotal for financial management.	How credit scores work, maintaining good credit history, managing debt responsibly, using credit advantageously.
Financial Planning for Life Events	Planning for life’s unpredictability by preparing for major events financially.	Planning for education, home buying, emergencies, retirement, having an emergency fund, the importance of insurance.
Teaching Financial Literacy to Others	Empowering through knowledge sharing, particularly about financial literacy.	Educating young women and girls, creating a financially savvy community.
Negotiating Salaries and Raises	Understanding workplace value and negotiating salaries and raises effectively.	Research, timing, clear communication, strategies for negotiation.

Topic: Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a game-changer in both personal growth and professional success. Some of the most interesting talks we’ve seen involve from women motivational speakers focus on understanding and managing emotions to enhance communication, problem-solving, and relationships. Here are some sub topics related to EI:

• Self Awarness

Self-awareness involves recognizing your own emotional states and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. This self-awareness leads to better self-management, allowing you to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage emotions in healthy ways, and adapt to changing circumstances.

• Empathy

Empathy and social skills are also crucial components of EI. Empathy involves understanding others’ emotions and responding appropriately, a key factor in building and maintaining relationships. Women speakers often share strategies for enhancing empathy, such as active listening and being open to different perspectives.

• Social Skills

Social skills in EI refer to the ability to navigate social complexities and build strong relationships. This includes effective communication, inspiring and influencing others, managing conflict, and working well in teams. These skills are vital in leadership roles and collaborative environments.

Here is a summary of a recent talk about how the speaker put EI into practice:

Aspect of EI	Description	Actionable Strategy
Self-Awareness	Understanding your own emotions and their impact.	Keep a journal to track emotions and triggers.
Self-Management	Controlling impulsive feelings and behaviors.	Practice mindfulness and stress management.
Empathy	Understanding and responding to others’ emotions.	Engage in active listening and perspective-taking.
Social Skills	Navigating social complexities, building relationships.	Develop communication skills and conflict resolution techniques.

The best women motivational speakers illustrate these concepts with personal anecdotes, making them relatable and easier to integrate into daily life.

Pro tip: event planners can probe the speaker about these personal anecdotes prior to signing the contract. If you’re working with us, we’ve got you covered in this area – and every other area of the keynote speaking process!

Topic: Mental Health and Well-Being

In our opinion, there are just not enough women motivational speakers who emphasize the importance of acknowledging and addressing mental health issues.

But what type of team could benefit from this sort of speech?

Here are some organizations that have benefited from a mental health “check up”:

1. Corporate Entities (Finance and Tech): Companies in high-pressure industries benefit from mental health speeches by improving stress management, fostering openness, and enhancing productivity. After all, these workplaces must be attractive to top talent.
2. Educational Institutions (Universities and High Schools): Students facing academic pressures are a prime segment who could benefit from strategies on managing stress and reducing mental health stigma, contributing to a more supportive learning environment.
3. Healthcare Organizations (Hospitals and Mental Health Clinics): Healthcare professionals can learn self-care and resilience techniques, leading to better patient care.
4. Non-Profit Organizations (Women’s Rights and Mental Health Advocacy): Speeches to increase the impact on communities and vulnerable populations.

Topic: Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is a dream for so many of us. Women motivational speakers bring to light unique experiences, offering valuable lessons and actionable advice.

We’ve seen a breakdown of this category of speech in 3 primary areas: importance of resilience in the face of failure, the art of balancing risk with caution, and the necessity of building a strong support network.

• Resilience in Failure

Many successful women entrepreneurs emphasize the importance of resilience. Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, often shares how her early failures shaped her entrepreneurial journey, teaching her to embrace setbacks as learning opportunities. Check it out here:

• Balancing Risk and Caution

Speakers like Tory Burch, the CEO of Tory Burch LLC, highlight the importance of taking calculated risks. They advise on conducting thorough market research, understanding the target audience, and progressively scaling the business while being mindful of potential pitfalls.

• Building a Support Network

Speakers like Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, stress the importance of building relationships within and outside the industry. They underscore the value of mentorship, peer support, and professional networks in navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.

This is one of my personal favorite speeches!

Wrap Up: Which Of These Topics Are Right For Your Event?

Following the inspiring journeys of these pioneering women, we discover not just narratives but a roadmap for unleashing our own greatness. Echoing Tony Robbins‘ sentiment, our true value lies not in our acquisitions but in who we evolve into.

Ready to book a female motivational speaker? Take that first step today.

Remember, we are here to connect you with women motivational speakers who can bring this dynamic inspiration to life.

Let their experiences fuel your next leap forward!