Cowbit woman listed among top speakers for International Women’s Day
A woman is ‘blown away’ to have been named in a prestigious list of motivational speakers who have used their voices to impact and inspire.
Taz Thornton, from Cowbit, is among the top speakers - including Michelle Visage and Katie Piper - who are in demand for International Women’s Day today (March 8 ) in a list compiled by The Motivational Speakers Agency.
The multi-award-winning speaker, coach and bestselling author has worked with BBC Dragons, Olympians and entrepreneurs using her experiences of overcoming trauma to coach others.
Taz said: “I am blown away
“I knew that part of my calling was to help and motivate more people.
“Part of telling my story is to use what I have been through and change a victim mindset to that of a warrior.”
With a background in journalism, publishing and marketing, Taz started to train and empower others in personal and business development delivering Ted Talks.
Having overcome adversity and escaping an abusive relationship Taz felt she had been called to use her experiences in a positive way.
She said: “There is a lot of trauma in my backstory and I wanted to use what I had been through to help and support others.
“I have done quite a lot of work supporting people who have been through domestic abuse.
“In the business world there need to be far more female voices.”
Taz uses humour as a tool in her motivational speaking - with a similar style to Victoria Wood in the way she presents her message - and is intuitive to what her audience wants on the day, unscripted and sometimes improvised.
She has found influences in French and Saunders, Mary Portas who she describes as a ‘brilliant voice’, Celia Imrie and Tony Robbins.
Taz said: “With the comedy element I never set out to do anything comedic but it is important to bring light and shade in.
“Even If I am speaking about something dark my aim is to leave people on an uplift.
“I reckon it is easier to name five female comedians than five female motivational speakers.”
Although she highlights that the motivational speaking platform has been dominated by men she believes that ‘empowered women empower women’ and encourages more to take the stage.
However she is keen not to cause a gender divide and aims to be inclusive and to promote equality.
She said: “We can blame the patriarchy or at least do something to lift and elevate not just women but the people around us.”
“We can rest on our laurels and complain or raise our head up above the parapet.
“What is important to me is the heart of speaking.”
This list celebrates some of the most inspiring, trailblazing women from business, sport, activism, the military and beyond – all using their voices to empower, challenge and change the world.
And Taz is ‘thrilled, humbled and a little bit gobsmacked’ to be on that list and will use the opportunity to continue motivating others on a wider scale.
She said: “Awards are lovely and when I received an award for best female business coach in the UK it was lovely at the time.
“But the best thing about awards along with third party endorsement is that it pushes me out there further.
“This might take me out to more people to impact lives positively.”
For further information visit Taz Thornton on Facebook.
