Talented and experienced women hold vital roles across our business, and the insights they bring shape the decisions we make every day.
But the expertise of our fantastic female colleagues also reminds us that supporting others isn’t just about the working environment; it’s about the many ways women enrich our lives.
Mothers, grandmothers, sisters, friends, aunties, neighbours, teachers, colleagues – it’s often the quiet gifts of wisdom and guidance from and to women that help us all move forward.
To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we asked colleagues to share their stories of inspiring women who have empowered them to aim higher or think differently.
Here are those stories.
James
“I have spent the vast majority of my career at a new start-up business and on a small, male-dominated team.
The growth of Apatura has given me a wonderful opportunity to work alongside strong and inspiring women across our business who have brought leadership, expertise, and organisation in our transition to a well-structured SME at the forefront of its industry”.
Anonymous
“I know a woman who’s had a tougher path than most, but she never let it become an excuse. Through perseverance, dedication and a clear belief in what she wanted for herself, she built her own business from the ground up.
It wasn’t luck, just consistency, hard work and refusing to give up when things were difficult. Her journey is a reminder that progress often comes from simply keeping going”.
Jacob
“My fiancée, Ella, really inspires me.
She has always been someone who has pushed me into being someone who is at least 1% better than the person I was the day prior. This has made me come on leaps and bounds in my confidence and my overall ability to navigate life.
She has done this all while navigating her own journey and trying to better herself every day. She’s the strongest person I know, and she continues to make me stronger”.
Amy
“When I think about the women who have shaped my journey, one person immediately comes to mind, someone I have the privilege of working with every single day.
From the very beginning, she has had this quiet but powerful way of making me believe I could do more. Even on days when I doubted myself, she never did. No matter what was happening in her own life, and there have been times when she has been carrying more than most people would ever realise, she still showed up with strength, focus, and encouragement for everyone around her.
I don’t think she fully understands the impact she has had on me. There have been moments in my career where I questioned whether I was capable of stepping up, taking on more responsibility, or aiming higher. Without hesitation, she reminded me that I was. Her belief in me has always felt certain and unwavering – and that confidence slowly became my own.
Recently, during a particularly difficult time in my personal life, her support went far beyond the workplace. She was patient, understanding, and consistently uplifting. On days when things felt heavy, she helped me find clarity and strength. She encouraged me, reassured me, and most importantly, believed in me. sometimes more than I believed in myself.
Working alongside her has shown me what true leadership looks like. It isn’t just about results or targets; it’s about empowering others, standing by them, and giving them the confidence to realise their potential.
This International Women’s Day, I want to recognise her not just for what she does, but for who she is. She has helped me aim higher, grow stronger, and trust in my own abilities. And for that, I am incredibly grateful”.
Tatum
“I live by my principle: “Leave everyone better than you found them.” That mindset shapes how I support the women and girls in my life.
I try to be someone they can rely on – whether that’s listening when they doubt themselves, encouraging them to take the next step toward their goals, or reminding them of their strengths when they forget. Sometimes it’s practical support; other times it’s simply being present and believing in them out loud.
I’ve learned that confidence often grows when someone feels genuinely supported. If I can help create that belief, even in small ways, then I know I’m helping them move closer to their ambitions”.
Emma
“Hayley and I met in a Geography tutorial during our first week at university back in 1990. We were barely 18.
We bonded immediately over a shared love of rock and metal. But within weeks, an enduring friendship was cemented that transcended the superficial. Despite our very different backgrounds, we were inseparable throughout university, and our lives were intertwined forevermore.
We shared so many ‘firsts’. I was the only guest at her first wedding, then drove to rescue her from that abusive marriage. I was one of the first people to hold her first child and was honoured to attend her second wedding to Nick, the undoubted love of her life.
Together, they have four children, the youngest of whom is only 13 and utterly captivating. She is every inch her mother’s daughter.
A survivor of extreme childhood trauma, Hayley’s life could have followed a very different trajectory. But she would not be suppressed, and in everything she did, she determined to explore new and better ways to do the things few of us challenge. She “unschooled” all four children while juggling assorted commitments as a social worker, lecturer, assessor of NVQ assessors, blogger, podcaster, and beloved friend.
As a student, she was the only person I knew who recycled, built a compost heap, donated to charity and campaigned. She completely altered my worldview and inspired me beyond measure. She was always measured and compassionate, offering an alternative perspective and seeing the good in everyone.
We pierced our noses, dyed our hair, rocked ‘til we dropped, bought ridiculous clothes (my para boots were a highlight), laughed until we cried, shared our dreams, and coloured each other’s lives indelibly.
An extraordinary and exceptional human being, you couldn’t fail to be impressed by her quiet conviction, and she touched the lives of everyone she met.
Hayley died on 1 February.
When she died, she was partway through an MA, despite punishing chemotherapy and immense pain. She was awarded a First in her first assignment.
When someone dies, those who knew them invariably talk about how special they were. But Hayley was beyond special. She was the epitome of effortless beauty, inside and out. Strong, serene, steadfast. She is forever my inspiration”.
Owen
“I grew up in a household of three women, and their influence has shaped so much of who I am today.
Watching their resilience, ambition, and kindness encouraged me to aim higher myself.
I wouldn’t be the person I am now without the examples they’ve set and the support they’ve given me throughout my life so far”.
David
“Throughout my career, I’ve had the distinct privilege of working for and alongside some of the most inspirational female leaders in the energy industry. People often ask why International Women’s Day remains so significant, and for me, the answer lies in the diversity of thought, temperament, and skill that these women bring to a sector traditionally defined by a very different status quo.
I look back fondly on a time when my leadership team was predominantly female; it wasn’t just about the numbers, but about the palpable shift in culture. Over the years, I’ve witnessed a transformative increase in the presence of women across the energy landscape, and with them, a more holistic and resilient approach to defining success in this vital field.
Debra
I’ve been lucky to work with some brilliant women over the years, but the one who really shaped me is Harriett.
She is the CMO at AECOM, she started out as my boss, but over time she became much more than that, she’s my mentor, my sounding board, and I’m chuffed to call her a friend.
Harriett is an exceptional marketer and communicator, she just gets it. The strategy, the story, the detail that makes something land. But what always stood out to me most was how hard she works, she’s one of the hardest working people I know, and she never asked anything of others that she absolutely wouldn’t do herself.
She set a standard without making a big show of it, and that bar is high. She’s smart, thoughtful, generous with her time (although I could do with some more of it), and she always backing the people around her. Watching how she operated taught me a lot about leadership and about what good looks like.
I am incredibly inspired by the team around me now. I’m also incredibly inspired by the team around me now. I’m lucky enough to lead an all-female team and they are genuinely brilliant.
They challenge thinking, bring creativity and energy (and fun) to what we do, and constantly raise the bar for the work we produce. I feel incredibly lucky to have such a talented group of women around me!
So today feels like a good moment to recognise the women who shape us, challenge us, back us and inspire us along the way and over the years I’ve been lucky to have quite a few of them in my corner.
Giles
When I think about the women who have shaped my life, my mind always goes back to my mum and my grandmother.
I grew up on a farm, where life was built around early mornings, long days in the fields, and a real sense of self-sufficiency. Nothing came easily and everyone played their part.
The women in my family were at the centre of that. My mum and my gran worked incredibly hard, often quietly and without fuss, but their strength, resilience and commitment to family were constant. They instilled in me a strong work ethic, a sense of responsibility, and the importance of looking after the people around you.
They also showed me what real support looks like. They believed in me, encouraged me, made major life sacrifices and gave me the confidence to push myself further than I might have otherwise.
On International Women’s Day it’s a good moment to reflect on the women who shape us, often long before we realise the impact they are having.
For me, that foundation came from home. And I’m very grateful for it.
