As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we recently sat down with gold-winning Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton CBE and broadcaster, columnist and entrepreneur Laura Jackson. They shared with us what drives them, how they’ve overcome challenges and their perspective on gender equality.

We’ll publish more on what they had to tell us on these very web pages soon. But for now, as a brief preview of what’s to come, here’s what they had to say about inspiration…

Victoria Pendleton, “During my sporting career, I looked up to lots of different athletes from different sports. There were luckily women at that time performing in Team GB, and when I saw them at the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, major athletics events I just thought they were marvellous. And when I met them and realised what incredible human beings they are as well, it just added to that inspiration.”

Laura Jackson, “I think the most interesting women that I have met who are re-shaping British business are the people who are working every day, whether they’ve got a café, or a small family business, or are being a mother. People doing those day-to-day tasks, they are the people who really inspire me.”

Look out for our full report of our interviews with Victoria and Laura – coming soon

Read more about Royal Bank’s partnership with Team GB.