Whether in the field of politics, civil rights, nursing or fashion, these feisty females all changed the world we live in, writes Vickie Chan.

When asked to name top women leaders worldwide, and at any time in history, it is easy to leap to a political answer. However, the dictionary definition describes “a person who guides or directs a group; an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction”.     

The following women have all paved the way for change, through different means.

Emmeline Pankhurst (July 15 1858 – June 14 1928)

Famous for her militant ideas, Pankhurst became involved in the women’s suffrage movement at 14. Although married with five children, she founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903 and coined the phrase “deeds, not words”.

Deeds included calling for window smashing, confronting the police, and hunger strikes. At the start of World War I, Pankhurst asked members of her movement to unite against Germany.

The 1918 Representation of the People Act granted votes to all men over the age of 21 and women over the age of 30.

Notable qualities: determination, organisation, adaptability

Rosa Parks (February 4 1913 – October 24 2005)

This African-American civil rights activist is best known for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus.

Legislation segregating passengers by race stated that no passenger would be forced to give up a seat – yet it became customary for black passengers to do so.

Because 75 per cent of passengers were black, the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott had a significant impact. It lasted 381 days and left public buses idle, focusing an international spotlight on the plight of African-Americans.

Notable qualities: determination, commitment, bravery

Florence Nightingale (May 12 1820 – August 13 1910)

Best known as the “lady with the lamp”, Nightingale was a nurse during the Crimean War, as well as a statistician and social reformer.

Her work established modern professional nursing, and in 1860 she opened the Nursing School at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Without prejudice, she published work that allowed the spread of medical knowledge, especially in simple English for those with poor literary skills, and her social reform work covered all sections of British society. She also helped to abolish excessively harsh prostitution laws that affected women, and pushed for an acceptable degree of female participation in the workforce.

She was pictured on the 1975 British £10 note.

Notable qualities: nurturing, unprejudiced, pioneering

Aung San Suu Kyi (born June 19 1945)

After recently winning a majority in Myanmar’s first openly contested election since 1990, Aung San is hailed as a symbol of peace and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

She studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford, but it was her legacy as the daughter of Myanmar's independence hero, General Aung San – who was assassinated when Aung San was two – that kept Myanmar in her mind.

Now 70, Aung San spent 15 years (within a 21-year span) under house arrest for her attempts to bring democracy to military-ruled Myanmar, and was kept from seeing her children for years.

She cites Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi as her inspiration.

Notable qualities: strength, diplomacy, loyalty

Natalie Massenet MBE (born May 13 1965)

Founding Net-a-Porter in London earned this American an MBE. With a background in fashion journalism, Massenet decided to launch an online magazine selling designer fashion – a gutsy move in 2000.

Massenet managed to convince stores and designers that they could sell products without a physical store. She also convinced purchasers they could buy without trying and still be able to return unwanted goods, taking online luxury products from concept to actuality – and success. By 2004 the company was in profit, and by 2013 it had 2,600 staff in Britain, the US and Hong Kong.

A £2.3 billion (HK$27.4 billion) merger with Italian firm Yoox was confirmed earlier this year, and in September Massenet decided to step down as executive chairman.

Massenet describes herself as a “reluctant leader” yet has chaired the British Fashion Council since 2013, making her responsible for London Fashion Week.

Notable qualities: vision, determination, hardworking

Hash tags and topics for further reading:

#Girlscan