There is one thing you notice pretty quickly when you read books about the greatest speeches
ever given.
You'll see the same thing if you do a google search or even ask ChatGPT about it.
It's the same reason you've probably heard of this guy, this guy and this guy, but she
probably didn't know that the world's first computer programmer was Ada Lovelace, That
Stephanie Kwolek discovered Kevlar used in bulletproof vests and the picture Jackie Mitchell
once struck out legendary hitter Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the same game.
The answer, of course, is obvious they were all women and because the narrative of human
history has largely been written by men.
The achievements and contribution of women to our society and our history has been often
undervalued or just plain ignored.
Did you know, for instance that one of the greatest public speaking moments ever witnessed
at the United Nations was given not by a world statesman, but by a little known 12 year old
Canadian activist.
On her first speech in 1992 in Brazil more about her later.
Now, I want to give a quick shout out to two pioneers on this topic, Denise Graveline who
sadly passed away and Dana Ruben who runs the outstanding speaking while female speech
bank, you really should check out their work.
If you want to dive into this topic a little deeper.
So forget the usual suspects like Martin Luther, King Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill.
This is my choice for 10 of the greatest speeches ever given, which also happened to be speeches
by women.
I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is not. Coming in at number
10 is the civil rights activist Malala Yousafzai, and the brilliant speech she gave when collecting
her Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, at the age of just 17,
I'm pretty certain I'm also the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who still fights
with her younger brothers.
Malala's story is a highly inspiring one.
And in this speech, she reminds us that sometimes courage is your only option. I had two options.
One was to remain silent and wait to be killed, and the second was to speak up and then be
killed.
I chose the 2nd 1. I decided to speak up.
Hillary Clinton is not generally known as a great communicator.
Certainly not one compared to her husband Bill, But in this seminal speech in 1995,
she laid out what has become a battle cry for the cause of women's equality.
If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human
rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights once and for all.
Sadly, this was probably the high point in Hillary's public speaking career, reportedly,
she's quite funny in person, but that doesn't really come across in public.
I don't know who created Pokemon Go, but I'm trying to figure out how we get them to have
Pokemon.
Go to the polls. No, Hillary No.
Pretty much no list about great women is complete without Oprah Winfrey.
So here she is at number eight picking up her Golden Globe award and giving a rousing
speech about her personal story and the power of women that literally lifted a celebrity
packed audience to its feet.
Many had hoped she would follow this up with an announcement that she was going to run
for president.
I for one am glad she didn't.
After all, who else are we going to rely on to make some grown men cry, why am I crying
on Oprah?
Sometimes it's difficult to believe that there was a time in the Western world not so long
ago when women were not allowed to inherit property or open bank accounts or of course
vote sadly in many places in the world today, that is still the case in the UK.
Of course this changed largely due to the work of the suffragettes who fought and sometimes
gave their lives for the cause of women's voting rights and the greatest speech in this
era was given by the charismatic leader, Emmeline Pankhurst, who gave what is commonly now referred
to as the freedom or death speech in 1913.
Sadly, of course there is no Youtube footage of this speech, but even just reading the
words on paper can show how immense the impact was then and still is now.
Good morning.
Maya Angelou was one of the most celebrated writers of her day and when she delivered
this poem on the inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993, it had everybody engaged and enraptured.
It is an outstanding poem of course. But for me, what sets this apart?
What takes it into our list was the melodic and expressive way in which she delivered
it with that rasping voice.
So say the asian, the hispanic, the jew, the african, the native american, the Sioux, the
catholic, the muslim, the french, the greek, the irish, the rabbi, the priest, the sheikh,
the gay, the straight, the preacher, the privileged, the homeless, the teacher.
They all hear the speaking of the tree.
I don't know much about poetry but I could listen to Maya all day long. That brings us
halfway through.
And what do you think if you have a speech you think should be on this list?
But isn't just drop a comment into the comment box and I will review and reply.
I respond to pretty much everyone except for the trolls.
At number five is the epic destruction by former Prime Minister of Australia.
Julia Gillard of her opposite number Tony Abbott in what is now commonly known as the
misogyny speech.
I was offended too by the sexism by the misogyny of the leader of the opposition cat calling
across this table.
I was offended when the leader of the opposition stood next to a sign that described me as
a man's bitch.
Gillard had faced a lot of sexist commentary in the press which was backed up by Tony Abbott
who would say things like men are better placed to command than women.
And so by the time of this parliamentary debate, Julia Gillard had just had enough and she
let him have it.
I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man.
If he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn't need a motion
in the House of Representatives, He needs a mirror.
Seriously, Julia tell us what you really think.
Isabella Baumfree A. K A Sojourner Truth was an escaped slave abolitionist who sued her
former slave master for custody of her son and one and in 18 51 she gave what is now
known as the Ain't I A woman? speech and talked about how all women deserved their rights,
sadly.
Of course there is no Youtube footage of this wonderful speech but here's Kerry Washington.
She'll do.
I have born 13 Children seen most sold off into slavery and when I cried out with a mother's
grief.
None but Jesus heard me and ain't I a woman.
Now you heard it here first.
Michelle. Obama is a better public speaker than Barack.
Okay, what I mean by that is that she was an awesome storyteller and I just don't think
Barack did enough of that.
You see, even back then when Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate to me,
he was still the guy who picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out.
I could actually see the pavement going by in a hole in the passenger side door.
See what I mean.
Number three is the speech by Michelle Obama introducing her husband as the Democratic
nominee for the presidential race in the 2012 Democratic Convention
and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward.
My husband, our president Barack Obama.
And to be honest, I don't think anybody even remembers what Barack said after she came
on.
That's how good this speech was.
Come on bro.
When they go low we go high.
No.
Way before eco activist Greta Thunberg told the world's politicians to stop blah blah
blah .
Severn Suzuki became known as the girl who silenced the world when she gave a speech
at the earth summit in RIO at the tender age of just 12.
If a child on the streets who has nothing is willing to share, why are we who have everything
still so greedy?
It was the perfect mix of the right message delivered in the right way by the right messenger
and really truly rivals anything you're likely to see by some of the more celebrated speakers
that we're used to hearing about.
You grown ups say you love us but I challenge you. Please make your actions reflect your
words.
Thank you.
Which brings us to the number one spot.
Now Eve of battle motivational speeches are some of the most important speeches a leader
will ever have to give you have to galvanize your troops and get them ready for the battle
ahead.
And probably one of the greatest examples of this motivational speech to the troops
was given by Queen Elizabeth the first in 15 88 at tilbury in what is now known as the
two tilbury speech.
Imagine you're one of the troops at this moment.
The spanish Armada is about to invade you no longer have the big charismatic Henry the
eighth kind of king leading you and you're worried that this might be the last moment
on this earth for you and the family you are fighting to defend and then out strides the
Virgin queen in silver armor on a great horse, brandishing a golden Truncheon and then she
addresses you with these words.
I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of
a king and of a king of England to
Thank you daughter.
What I also love about this speech is the fact that it is short at just two minutes
long, it shows that you really don't have to go on and on and on if you want to deliver
something with impact.
So remember that the next time you're on slide 89 of your 53 minute power point presentation.
Bueller. Bueller. So there you go.
10 of the greatest speeches ever given which just happened to also be given by women.
If you enjoyed this video, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one that it's popped up somewhere
on the screen.
Reach out. Of course, if you need any help with your communication skills and I will
see you on the next video.