ONE WOMAN CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

An uplifting International Women’s Day talk about confidence, resilience and the courage to create change

Warm, funny and inspiring, Alison Kervin OBE’s extraordinary story shows what can happen when one woman refuses to accept that something cannot be done.

In 1991, Alison Kervin walked onto the pitch at Twickenham to referee a rugby match. No woman had ever done it before.

That became the pattern of her career.

Alison campaigned for the legalisation of women’s boxing and fought for women to be allowed to play rugby at Twickenham. She became the first female presenter on Rugby Special, the first woman appointed Sports Editor of a British national newspaper and the first woman to attend a football match in Iran.

When she began her career, Alison submitted ideas to newspapers as “A. Kervin” so that editors would not know they had come from a woman.

Later, she spent years campaigning for sport to confront the devastating effects of concussion and brain injury—continuing long after the initial interest had faded and many powerful people wished the subject would disappear. That work was recognised with an OBE.

None of these changes began with permission, a budget or a committee.

Each began when one person asked an uncomfortable question in a room that did not want to hear it—and then returned to ask it again.

The talk

One Woman Can Change Everything is a celebration of what becomes possible when women believe in their own ideas, support one another and find the confidence to step into spaces in which they may not initially feel welcome.

Drawing on Alison’s own remarkable career—and the lessons she has learnt from interviewing more than 250 Olympic champions and some of the world’s most successful sportspeople—the talk explores the confidence, resilience and teamwork that enable people and organisations to achieve extraordinary things.

This is not simply a retrospective account of Alison’s “firsts”. It is an honest, frequently funny and highly practical talk about overcoming rejection, recovering from setbacks, finding another route forward and continuing when progress feels painfully slow.

Its message is simple:

You don't need to be the most powerful person in the room to start changing it.

Audiences leave with:

• Greater confidence in their own abilities, ideas and potential

• Practical ways to respond positively to setbacks, resistance and rejection

• A stronger understanding of how individual initiative can benefit an entire team

• The confidence to contribute ideas, challenge assumptions constructively and listen to different perspectives

• A renewed commitment to their goals—and the resilience to continue when progress is slow

• An understanding of how inclusive teams enable more people to perform at their best

Above all, audiences leave believing that they can make a difference—and understanding that organisations thrive when their people feel confident enough to contribute.

Perfect for

• International Women’s Day celebrations

• Women’s networks and employee resource groups

• Leadership and talent-development programmes

• Company conferences and away days

• Client and partner events

• Public-sector and professional-services organisations

• Universities, charities and sporting bodies

The talk can be tailored to reflect the audience, organisation and theme of your event.

Available formats

• 30–45-minute keynote

• Keynote followed by audience questions

• Interactive leadership session

• In-conversation event

• Online or in-person delivery

About Alison

Alison Kervin OBE is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author and international speaker.

She was the first woman appointed Sports Editor of a British national newspaper and has spent four decades interviewing the world’s leading athletes, coaches and decision-makers.

Alison is a former Chief Sports Feature Writer at The Times, the author of more than 40 books and an Associate at Hult Ashridge Executive Education. She was awarded an OBE for her services to sports journalism and her campaigning work.

What people say

“A massive thank you for giving up so much of your time to share your story with my team—you were absolutely brilliant. Your messages resonated so well and were so on point.”
Marketing Director, Wickes

“Wonderful. Inspirational and engaging!”
Marks & Spencer

“She has done as much over the years for battling females as any woman since Boadicea.”
The Spectator

“Alison’s work on behalf of women in sport has helped break the gender barrier for women on the field of play and in administration.”
Lord Sebastian Coe

“Alison is a trailblazer in the sports industry. She has pushed the boundaries and become a role model for women working in a historically male-dominated environment.”
Sir Clive Woodward

Bring Alison to your International Women’s Day event

To discuss your event and how the talk could be tailored for your audience, call 07880 505607 or fill in the form below, and we’ll get back to you straight away.