Hope Powell

Hope Powell has been one of the biggest names in raising the profile of Women’s football. She shattered the glass ceiling when she became England’s first female boss leading the team to several major tournaments and coaching the first-ever GB Women’s football team at the 2012 Olympics. As a speaker, she talks about increasing inclusivity and how women can succeed in any field even if it is considered a ‘man’s area’.

Growing up, Hope was often left out of playing football with her brothers as the only girl that was there. She was also stopped from playing in her school side as the FA banned mixed-gender teams. She then came across Millwall Lionesses and despite her mother’s objections to her playing, Hope was determined not to let anything stop her from achieving her dreams and went on to have a successful career. She won the FA Cup twice, and the National Premier Division in a career that saw her play for Millwall, Friends of Fulham, Bromley Borough, and Croydon. She also represented England over 60 times before she became England’s head coach.

Her appointment as three lions’ boss was the first time England Woman had a full-time coach or a female coach. Not willing to stop there though, as England boss hope fought for professional contracts for players at a time when most players were working other jobFemals and paying to play and train. Achieving this Hope set the platform for the women’s game to grow into what it is today. She also became the first female to achieve a UEFA Pro Licence acting as a role model for other female coaches that have followed in her footsteps. She made history again as the coach of GB’s first-ever women’s football team at an Olympic games in 2012 and as coach of Brighton & Hove Albion Women, she is striving to grow the women’s game and provide a platform for the next generation of players and coaches. Her work and commitment to women’s football saw her awarded a CBE in 2010 and in 2003 she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

As a female motivational speaker, Hope Powell inspires audiences to shatter the glass ceiling and pursue their goals no matter what they face. She also encourages organisations and individuals to provide women with an equal opportunity to succeed in the workplace by tackling outdated practices.