LinkedIn x UEFA Women's EURO 2022: Follow In Her Footsteps

“It’s easier to be what you can see”?

We all know that role models play a part in shaping who we are, who we become, and the career paths we take. They’re people to look up to and? provide inspiration for others hoping to make their dreams come true. The trouble is - they’re not always visible. We might know one personally, but when it comes to our professional lives, how many female role models get the spotlight they deserve?

Our latest research shows that 76% of female professionals say relatable role models need to be more visible. It’s this insight, along with our ongoing goal of making the world of work equitable for all, which has fuelled the ambition behind our national sponsorship of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in England. With the tournament set to be one of the biggest sporting events of the summer, we wanted to champion a group of amazing female footballing trailblazers, by not only highlighting their career achievements on the pitch, but also showcasing the inspiring work they accomplish off it.

To do this, we shone a spotlight on just how far the women’s game has come, by challenging England’s first ever UEFA Women’s EURO captain, Carol Thomas BEM, on a 30-mile walk through history. It started from the place where it all began, when only 1,000 people watched England take on Denmark at Crewe’s Gresty Road stadium, and ended ?at Old Trafford, where this year England took on Austria in the opening game, in front of a sold out crowd of 70,000 people.?

Along the way Carol was joined by other female footballing trailblazers and even an old opponent from 1984. We captured the amazing conversations that transpired between them, as they talked about their careers, the obstacles they faced, what it means to be a role model, how much the game has changed, and even how they’ve inspired one another.??

Let us introduce you to the women who have created real change in not just the game they love, but the attitudes of people all over the world.

Carol Thomas

Leading the charge is the 1984 England Women’s EURO captain, Carol Thomas BEM.?

She took on the responsibility of captain at the age of just 21, and set the standard with a multitude of firsts in the game: one of the first qualified female coaches in England, the first female player to be interviewed on national breakfast television and the first female footballer to have an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. And in 2021 she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. In 2022, she was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to association football and charity.

Anette B?rjesson

Next we have Carol’s former opponent, the woman who competed against her back in 1984, Anette B?rjesson.

Anette captained Sweden to victory in the first ever UEFA Women’s EURO, scoring the first penalty in a shootout victory. A woman who embodies the term ‘nerves of steel’, she often stepped up to the penalty spot for her team and, as a captain like Carol, went on to set an example for the next generation that would play after her. After her retirement, she founded a magazine dedicated to women's football, called Nya M?l, as she continues to help grow the women’s game.

Rachel Yankey

Rachel Yankey, MBE, OBE, is not just considered an Arsenal legend, but an integral part of English footballing history.

Since making her debut in 1997, Rachel has appeared on 129 occasions for England and became England’s 6th most capped player of all time, ahead of male goalkeeper Peter Shilton with 125. Her path as a role model, started at the age eight, when she shaved her hair off, pretending to be a boy called 'Ray', an acronym of her initials. From that moment on, she was destined to break down barriers and tackle stereotypes not only for herself, but for future generations. In 2006 she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours. Rachel continues to work as a coach in schools, teaching football to children and young girls.

Chloe Morgan

Chloe Morgan is a professional player, coach, diversity officer and qualified lawyer.?

While many would struggle to find the time, Chloe continues to show that when you put your mind to something there’s nothing you can’t achieve. Currently playing for FA Women's Championship club Crystal Palace F.C., she combines making game-winning saves on the pitch, with finding justice for her clients and their families off of it. Chloe is a vocal supporter of diversity and LGBT rights within sport, using her position to create a better environment for the next generation of female footballers.?

Iqra Ismail

Finally, there’s Iqra Ismail, or Coach Iqra as she’s often known. Iqra has carved her own reputation in the game, by providing a community service that has seen her champion the under-represented.?

At 15, Iqra began voluntary coaching, and received her first coaching badge when she was 18. At the age of 21, she became the Director of Women’s Football at Hilltop Women’s Football Club. She is also the first captain of the Somali Women’s National Team, made up of players from the UK and from Mogadishu. These achievements are just the beginning of her journey and she continues to spread the message of equality in sports for future generations of Muslim women.

These five women are just some of the role models who continue to create real change within their profession and beyond. Follow them, and many more inspirational women, on LinkedIn. #FollowInHerFootsteps