WATCH: Women 's Day event highlights #ChoosetoChallenge campaign

“The best thing a woman can be is authentic, ” Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce members were told during a special event to mark International Women 's Day.

The 'Celebrating International Women 's Day ' event took place yesterday in participation of the #ChoosetoChallenge campaign surrounding this year 's celebration.

The campaign encouraged people to call out gender bias and inequality and help create a more inclusive world.

Recognising women 's achievements locally, nationally and internationally, attendees heard from three inspirational women who have dared to challenge the status-quo.

Guests included former BBC correspondent and head of communications at Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, Satnam Rana-Grindley (pictured), chief executive of Newlife the Charity, Sheila Brown and Critical Care Paramedic at Midlands Air Ambulance, Sarah Folley.

Each speaker, in their respective fields, shared their personal stories and advice on how we can pave the way for all women to follow their dreams.

A key theme raised by speakers was the issue of imposter syndrome, a feeling felt by many women that involves questioning their capabilities.

Sheila Brown encouraged women to search for the passion that drives them and go after it.

She said: “Women tend to suffer from imposter syndrome a lot, that feeling that someone will tell them that they don 't know what they 're talking about or that it 's not their place.

“Those thoughts don 't help you win, they help someone else win. If the voice in your head is telling you that you can 't do something, don 't listen. You can do it and you are good enough. ”

In her own life, Sheila used her experience as a mother of disabled sons to feed the concept for the Newlife charity established in 1991.

Now using her personal philosophy to drive the charity forwards, Sheila 's desire is to help the other 70 per cent of disabled children who are living without the support and equipment they need and has so far helped to fund £30 million worth of research in this area.

Satnam Rana-Grindley echoed Sheila 's sentiments regarding women having the confidence to strive towards their goals.

For Satnam, moments where she chose to speak up helped spur her determination and enabled her to pursue her career in journalism.

As a former BBC correspondent, Satnam was honest about her experience with the gender pay gap and working alongside men who were being paid a higher salary than her for the same role.

She urged women to challenge the system and ask important questions, as she did, in order to level the playing field.

Where certain fields are largely considered unobtainable to women, Sarah Folley explained her role in the Midlands Air Ambulance and her mission to educate young people that roles like hers are obtainable to all people.

While the gender balance within the Air Ambulance is considered largely equal across the ranks, the percentage of female clinic staff makes up just 20 per cent.

However, Sarah stressed that there was no limit to the part that women could play in providing an important service of critical care.

She said: “When it comes to saving patients lives, it is about hiring the best person for the job. But that doesn 't mean that we shouldn 't be giving all people the equal opportunity to pursue it as a career. ”