“Where are the women?”
“Why was the stage dominated by male speakers?”
“Couldn’t the organizers find qualified female speakers?”
These are questions that attendees, — male and female — ask themselves on the way home from the conferences and events that you worked so hard planning.
As two female co-founders, of an event-tech startup, Evolero, who are often listed on leading and innovative startup lists, run our own events, we are on the frontline and know too well and feel the urgency for women to be on stage.
Women are leading startups, Fortune 500 companies, and investing more and more in the next generation of innovation. Today, not having a balanced representation, not having a woman on stage, is a liability for your conference and in short will turn people away.
An exciting change is imminent. The inner feminine qualities that encompass women is reflected and presented through the impact that they have on the business and tech world.
More women in tech and business means more than just job opportunities for women, but their presence in the arena will foster more diverse and holistic innovation.
Events are powerful and play a major part in change. It’s the physical experience which is incredibly powerful, this is why you see an increase in live events as opposed to what was predicted when online social connectivity exploded. It’s obvious that bringing in more women and making sure women are on stage at events is a catalyst for change.
Although today women are more visible in the tech and business arena, and according to statistics women run startups are more capital efficient, and generate more revenue than male run startups, we still are asked by our clients about female keynote speakers, great event panelists.
We have reached out to 100’s of our clients, who organize leading innovation and tech events, our business partners and event industry leaders to create a quality list.
This list of “100+ Amazing Female Speakers” from the world of business and technology, includes well-known keynote speakers, international names, and rising stars- incredible speakers that you haven’t heard of yet, but need to!
In addition we have added information including what you need to know before you hire a speaker, what to ask, and how to choose speakers for your next event or conference.
Questions to answer before hiring a conference speaker:
Are you in the market for a professional speaker or a “rising star” speaker?
Is your keynote speaker or conference speaker going to educate, share your message, inform and entertain?
Is the speaker known for their storytelling ability?
Does the speaker fee match the quality of the speaker?
Do you have a budget that includes travel and hosting expenses for speakers? And how are you compensating your “free” speakers?
Will the event speaker you choose spend time on site with attendees – before and after their session?
Is the speaker a professional speaker or an expert in their field? Have you heard them speak?
Will your audience have a “wow” moment during the speaker’s presentation? What will they take away from the presentation?
Will the event speaker you choose help with the event marketing or buzz creation?
Can you build an interactive bio for them including social profiles, videos, decks, SlideShare?
Before you hire or pitch the speakers on your target list make sure that you are well aware of your budget, including agency fees, registration costs, hotels, ground transportation, meals, flights, etc.
We asked some of the top speakers agents and event planners their top tips for hiring speakers.
Here are their tips:
Shawna Suckow, Planner, Speaker and Author
Ask how interactive the presentation will be, and HOW
If a speaker is minimally interactive with the audience, that means it’s a lecture, which is a red flag to me these days, unless it’s a keynote presentation. Breakouts have to be engaging today, or you’ll lose the audience.
Social Proof is important these days
What the speaker says about herself isn’t as credible as what other people say about the speaker. Every speaker has carefully cultivated quotes from raving audience members, but I prefer to seek out my own input by asking for feedback on planner message boards.
Ask the speaker if she’s willing to help promote her session on social media with your event hashtag, or by writing a brief blog, or by filming a one- or two-minute video. In my opinion, it’s important to get speakers involved in pre-event promotions these days, not just have them show up to speak and leave.
Premiere Speakers – Shawn Hanks, President and Brian Lord, Senior Vice President
Plan ahead…
You have many more options as an event planner when planning months in advance. Every event is different – some plan 12-months in advance while some only plan three months in advance. But planning with adequate lead time gives you more speaker options, better date options, and allows you time for an adequate selection and decision process.
Know your needs
A good bureau contact or speaker advocate can coach you on what information is needed during your process. Date, location, time slot are the basic building blocks, but deeper information is also valuable. Event theme, anticipated take-aways, keynote or deeper training?
If you have a grasp on the full need, a bureau advisor can provide you a detailed shortlist of options. Those options will all be qualified of the job, and the real selection can be made based on best content and fit.
Know what you’re looking for
Are you trying to attract clients to your event? Do you really want to drive home a message overcoming obstacles? Is the chief goal to give attendees an outlook at the upcoming political and economic client, or just a break at the end of the day?
Realize you have more than one audience
The ‘normal audience’ we’re conditioned to think of is made up of the people sitting in the audience, and sometimes all they want is a good laugh, an autograph, and something they can brag about to their friends back at the office.
The ‘other audience’ an event planner has to worry about are the executives who care more about making sure the speaker talks about leadership, teamwork, and how the company needs to really focus on having a great year.
Make sure you express to your agent or speaker what both audiences want so you can find someone who fits everything you need.
Another great tool filled with tips and articles is the speaker booking kit from Speaking.com
How to determine the best keynote speaker for your event.
Speaker contracting tips.
Working with a speaker’s bureau.
What to expect when booking a celebrity speaker.
How to prepare for your speaker’s visit.
Here is our list of the Top 100+ Women Speakers to Invite to Your Next Event
Alice Zagury – Founder – TheFamily. Twitter
Allyson Kapin – Founder of Women Who Tech Co-Founder of Rad Campaign. Twitter, YouTube
Anna Fang – Anna is the Partner and CEO of Zhen Fund where she oversees Zhen Fund’s investments, portfolio management and operations. Twitter, YouTube
Suzanne Baran – Content Strategy Director. Twitter
Eileen Burbidge – Co-Founder, Passion Capital, London. Twitter
Hilary Mason – Founder at Fast Forward Labs. Twitter
Mika Brzezinski – Mika is an American television host, author and journalist. Brzezinski co-hosts MSNBC’s weekday morning broadcast Morning Joe with former Republican representative Joe Scarborough. Twitter
Mari Smith – Marketing executive, visionary leader of multinational teams known for her innovative and analytical thinking and entrepreneurial drive. Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest
Kate Russell – Tech reporter @BBCClick author. Elite, Twitter
Shawna Suckow – Customer Expert. Award-winning speaker, audience engagement enthusiast, hospitality industry evangelist, excellent parallel parker. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Iris Shoor – Co-founder and VP Product of Takipi, a start-up company solving one of cloud computing’s toughest problems. Previously co-founder and VP Product at VisualTao, a Sequoia backed start-up company developing cloud technologies for engineering and design. Twitter
Jenn Lim – CEO and Chief Happiness Officer of Delivering Happiness, Consultant at Zappos.com. Twitter
Jennifer Pahlka – Jennifer Pahlka is the founder and Executive Director of Code for America. Twitter.
Jennifer Hyman – CEO and Co-Founder of Rent The Runway, a retail industry company which makes designer dresses and offers accessory rentals. Twitter, Speakers File
Kelly McDonald – President of McDonald Marketing – Speaker, Diversity Marketing Expert Author. Twitter, Speakers File
Kim Wilkens – Tech-Girls Founder, Twitter
Krista Smith – West Coast Editor, Vanity Fair, CNN contributor. Twitter, Instagram, Speakers File
Laura Voglino – VP Alliances and Cloud Ecosystem Development at IBM. Marketing executive, visionary leader of multinational teams known for her innovative, analytical thinking and entrepreneurial drive. Twitter
Libby Gill – Executive Coach, Consultant, Author of Four Books, and International Speaker. Twitter, Facebook, Speakers File, YouTube
Lori Greiner – Shark Tank Investor, Inventor, and Entrepreneur, Known as “The Warm Blooded Shark”. Twitter, Facebook, Speakers File, Instagram
Lynette Kucsma – Passionate about plant-strong eating, marketing and technology. CMO Co-Founder of a company that makes 3D food printers, using REAL food. Twitter, Facebook
Natalie Massenet – Natalie Massenet MBE is a fashion entrepreneur and former journalist, who founded the designer fashion portal Net-a-Porter. Since 2013, she has been chairman of the British Fashion Council. Instagram
Pamela Fox – Pamela works at the Khan Academy on their computing curriculum. In her free time, she likes to teach for GirlDevelopIt, give talks, work on side projects, and read great books! Twitter, YouTube
Peggy Anne Salz – Nine times author a Forbes contributor; Top 30 Mobile Influencer; Content Marketing Strategist a Chief Analyst of Mobile Groove. Twitter, Facebook
Sarah Wood – Sarah Wood is cofounder COO of marketing technology company UnRuly. Responsible for delivering the most awesome social video campaigns on the planet. Twitter
Sunita Kaur – Managing Director, Asia, Spotify. Event Profile
Abigail Noble – Head, Impact Investing, World Economic Forum. Twitter, Facebook
Alexia Tsotsis – Co-Editor, TechCrunch. Twitter, Instagram
Ali Brown – Successful Entrepreneur, Business Advisor, and Consultant Featured on ABC’s Secret Millionaire. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Alyssa Milano – Actress, Humanitarian, Philanthropist, and Entrepreneur. Twitter, Facebook Speaker File, Instagram
Amanda Johnson – VP Integrated Marketing, Here Media. Twitter Facebook YouTube
Angela Maiers – Angela Maiers is a pioneer in digital literacy and education technologies. An award-winning educator, author, and speaker known for her work in education leadership and innovation, Angela works tirelessly to bring compassion-driven learning to classrooms around the world. Twitter, Facebook, Speakers File, YouTube
Anne Mahlum – Entrepreneur, CEO, Speaker, Runner, and Founder of Back on My Feet. Twitter, Facebook, Speakers File, YouTube
Annie Duke – Mom of four, speaker and decision coach, author of Decide to Play Great Poker and The Middle Zone, a poker single. Twitter, Facebook, Speakers File
Aurore Leblanc – Digital Communication Manager, KENZO. Twitter, Event Profile, Instagram
Axelle Lemaire – Secrétaire d’État chargée du Numérique. Twitter, Event Profile
Barbara Corcoran – Co-Founder of Barbara Corcoran Venture Partners. Twitter, Facebook Speakers File, Instagram
Beatriz (Bea) Rodriguez Director Diversity and Inclusion, The Home Depot. Twitter, Event Profile
Candace Reese – TheCEOPundit and JOYcatalyst Founder, @EnvisionGlobal. Twitter Facebook
Carey Lohrnenz – CEO at Carey Lohrenz, WSJ Bestselling Author: Fearless Leadership. The first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy. Twitter, Speaking File
Carole Zibi – Head of Strategic Marketing, LinkedIn. Twitter, Event Profile
Caroline Hyde – Business Correspondent @BloombergTV. Twitter
Caroline Pailloux – Founder d’Ignition Program. Twitter, Event Profile
Catherine Barba – Entrepreneur, mamie du (French) Web, founder of Cashstore, Malinea, Business Angel, Leetchi. Twitter
Catherine Bracy – Director of Community Organizing, Code for America. Twitter, Speaker File
Cheryl Burgess – Described as a “social media passionista” by the Huffington Post, Cheryl Burgess helps companies turn their brands into social businesses. Twitter, Speaker File
Cindy Yun – Founder and CEO, Atria. Twitter, Speaker File, Instagram
Clara de Soto – SVP Business Product Development at Event Farm. Co-Founder of Clearhart. Twitter, YouTube
Clara Shih – Author of The Facebook Era, CEO and Founder of Hearsay Corporation and Board Director of Starbucks Corporation. Twitter, Facebook
Cyndi Stivers – Cyndi Stivers is a digital-strategy and media consultant, currently working with Tina Brown Live Media (previously: Time Inc. National Geographic, Etsy, etc.). Twitter
Dalila Kerchouche – Grand reporter et Ecrivain. Twitter, Event Profile
Danae Ringelmann – Founder of @Indiegogo – empowering people to fund what matters to them. Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
Danielle Johnsons – Founder, The Urban Frontier. Twitter, Event Profile
Delphine Remy-Boutang – International entrepreneur, founder @the__bureau. Twitter, Facebook, Video
Dominique Dalle – Cofounder – Association Entreprendre Pour Apprendre Nord Pas de Calais. Twitter, Event Profile
Donna Griffit – CEO Co-founder invisu.me and Corporate Storyteller for Start Ups. Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux – President and Founder at Economic Education. Twitter, YouTube
Emma Jackson – Co-founder, XDs. Twitter, Facebook, Event Profile
Esther Dyson Esther Dyson is chairman and founder of HICCup (Health Initiative Coordinating Council) and Chairman of EDventure Holdings. Twitter, Speaker Profile
Françoise Mercadal-Delasalles – Head of Resources and Innovation. Member of the Executive committee for Societe Generale. Twitter
Géraldine Gautier – Fondatrice Le monde Pharmaceutique TV. Twitter, Event Profile.
Gwynne Shotwell – President, SpaceX. Twitter
Hila Oren – Founder CEO, Tel Aviv Global. Twitter
Holly Niemela – Optimal Being Advocate. Develops mindfulness at work, wellbeing programs, conferences and retreats. Teaches Search Inside Yourself (Google) program. Twitter, Event Profile
Jessica Jackley – Microlending Pioneer, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Kiva Twitter Speakers File
Joanna Kamińska – Policy Advisor at the European Parliament Twitter Facebook Speakers File
Justine Ryst – Media Director Twitter France – Connecting Entertainment/Sports/Music/Politics/News to their audiences. Twitter, Event Profile
Kathrin Damian – Product Director, GSMA. Twitter, Facebook
Karen Catlin – Karen Catlin is a leadership coach and advocate for women in the tech industry. She coaches professionals in public speaking and last year she delivered a TEDx talk: “Women in Tech – The Missing Force.” Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Kathy Ireland – Former Sports Illustrated Model, Successful Entrepreneur, C.E.O. of Kathy Ireland Worldwide. Twitter, Facebook, Speakers File
Katty Kay – BBC News anchor and contributor and guest host for Morning Joe Twitter Speakers File Video
Keren Elazari – Cyber Security Analyst, K3r3n3.com. Twitter, Event Profile, Speakers File, YouTube
Laurie Segall – CNNMoney correspondent covering startups, innovation, VC’s and all things new and cool. Twitter, Video
Lisa Birnbach – Lisa R. Birnbach is an author best known for co-authoring The Official Preppy Handbook, which spent 38 weeks at number one on the New York Times bestseller list in 1980. Twitter, Facebook
Lisa Ling – Lisa J. Ling is an American journalist, television presenter, and author. She is currently the host of This is Life with Lisa Ling on CNN. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Liz Wald – VP International, Indiegogo. Twitter, Event Profile
Magali Théveniault – Director of Travel Hospitality at Capgemini Consulting. Twitter, Event Profile
Malika Mir – Chief Digital Officer Ipsen Pharma. Twitter, Event Profile
Marie Hélène Chavigny Director Human Resources at Carrefour Market. Twitter, Event Profile
Marie-Christine Maheas – Coordinator and co-author of the book ‘Mixité’. Twitter, Event Profile
Marion Moreau – Corporate branding specialist – SIGFOX. Twitter
Marissa Mayer – Marissa Ann Mayer is the current president and CEO of Yahoo. Twitter
Martha Lane Fox – The former Lastminute.com executive and Chancellor The Open University. Twitter
Maya Elhalal-Levavi – Founder and Curator at http://ESH.media. Twitter, Facebook
Meg Whitman – CEO, Hewlett-Packard. Twitter
Michal Michaeli – Founder Managing Partner, Eva Ventures. Twitter, Event Profile
Monika Czaplicka – CEO, Wobuzz. Twitter, Facebook, Event Profile
Muriel Barnéoud – President, Docapost. Twitter
Natalia Hatalska – Expert in non-traditional communication methods, trendwatcher. Author of http://hatalska.com blog recognized as one of the most influential blogs in Poland. Twitter, Facebook
Nathalie Boulanger – Nathalie Boulanger is the Director of the program Orange Start-up Ecosystème. Twitter
Orna Shulman – Co-Founder of O.L.S Ventures, O.L.S Ventures
Patricia Delon – Executive Director, Commercial Department at RATP. Twitter, Event Profile
Rachel Schall Thomas – President at LeanIn.Org (Lean In Foundation) Twitter
Randi Zuckerberg – Founder ZuckMedia Agency. Speaker. Investor. Radio Host SiriusXM. Broadway Actress/Producer. Author DotComplicated Dot. Formerly Marketing Facebook. Twitter Facebook Speaker File Instagram
Roxanne Varza – Responsible for the support program for start-ups at Microsoft. Twitter, Event Profile
Rutie Adar – Director Business Development, Head of Samsung Strategy Innovation Center in Israel, Samsung Electronics.
Sallie Krawcheck – Chair of Ellevate Network and Ellevate Asset Management, past CEO, Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney. Twitter, Speaking File
Sandy Carter – General Manager/Cloud Ecosystem Developers, and Social Business Evangelist, IBM. Twitter
Sharinee Shannon Kalayanamitr – Entrepreneur, Humanitarian, Connector, World. Twitter, Event Profile
Sherry Coutu – Angel investor, Cambridge. Twitter
Sheryl Sandberg – Chief Operating Officer, Facebook. Twitter, Facebook
Shira Lazar – Shira Lazar is the Host and Executive Producer of the Emmy nominated live interactive daily show show and 24/7 news hub, “What’s Trending”. Named one of Fast Company’s 2011 Most Influential Women in Technology. Twitter, Facebook, Speakers File, Instagram, YouTube
Stephanie Hospital – One Ragtime founder, a global technology venture fund and advisory. Mentor at Level39 and PlugPlay. Twitter, Event Profile, Facebook
Susan Wojcicki – Senior Vice President, YouTube. YouTube, Twitter, video
Sylvie Jéhanno – Director Private Clients EDF. Twitter
Tal Shoham – Entrepreneur, CEO, Speaker, and Founder of Evolero. Twitter
Tamsen Webster – Tamsen Webster is Senior Vice President for Executive Communications and Chief Marketing Officer for Oratium. Twitter, Facebook
Tan Le – Tan is a top women keynote speakers; she’s also a technology whiz. She is a telecommunications entrepreneur and CEO of bioinformatics company, Emotiv. She was also a TED talk guest speaker. Twitter, Facebook
Toni Griggs – Toni Griggs is the Sales and Marketing Manager for the world’s leading event and experience marketing agency, George P. Johnson. Twitter, Event Profile
Ursula Burns – Ursula M. Burns serves as Chairwoman and CEO of Xerox. Twitter
Véronique Blondelle – Director of Marketing Marché IBM France. Twitter, Event Profile
Yael Reznik Cramer – VP Business Development, BRM Group. Event Profile
Yifat Oron – Yifat Oron is the CEO of LeumiTech, Leumi Group’s high tech subsidiary. Event Profile
Yoelle Maarek – Head of Yahoo Labs Israel and India. Twitter
Yvonne Adele – Yvonne is the creator of media personality Ms. Megabyte and has a career that spans print, television, radio and the Internet. Yvonne is popular in the corporate speaking arena for her keynote address and complimentary workshop on her creative thinking style. Twitter, Facebook, Speaker File
Zoe Sugg – English Fashion Beauty Vlogger and Internet Personality; Best Known on YouTube as Zoella. Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
Kate Russel – Journalist, reporter and author, Kate has been writing about technology and the Internet since 1995. Appearing weekly on BBC technology program Click she also speaks regularly at conferences and lectures in schools and universities inspiring the next generation of technologists. Twitter, Facebook
Read Next: 20 must-attend tech conferences for female entrepreneurs
The post The 100+ tech & business women speakers you need at your next event appeared first on IT Clips.
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