#270: Celebrating Women in Leadership and Toastmasters' Impact – Morag Mathieson

The Toastmasters Podcast with Greg Gazin

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[26:58] Toastmasters International was founded in 1924, but women weren’t admitted as members until 1973. Since then, they’ve made a lasting impact on the organization’s leadership. In 2025, four of the five Executive Committee members are women—and none were born in North America. In today’s episode, just in time for International Women's Day, we honor all women and speak with Toastmasters Immediate Past International President Morag Mathieson, DTM. 

She shares insights into her leadership journey as both a woman and someone from outside North America, discussing what inspired her to take this path. We explore how Toastmasters has shaped her journey to becoming International President, as well as how the mentors, people, and skills she gained have influenced her career and leadership roles outside of Toastmasters—particularly in high-impact organizations.

Morag also provides some interesting trivia on the evolution of International Women’s Day and previews her role as moderator in an upcoming Toastmasters webinar, Women Reflect on the Leadership Journey, sharing what attendees can expect.

She wraps up with sage advice for women looking to take their first or next step into leadership.

Morag is also featured, along with three other board members, in the article Leadership Skills at the Top: How Toastmasters Roles Shaped Four Women on the Executive Board by Laura Amann, in the March 2025 issue of Toastmaster magazine.

Morag Mathieson, PIP DTM, is a self-employed professional development consultant and chair of the child sponsorship charity Living Water Germany.

She previously led pharmacy operations in Scotland and Northern Ireland, managing strategy, service development, and business growth. She holds an MBA from The Open University and has served on pharmacy boards in both regions. She also oversaw finance for USA Girl Scouts Overseas in Southern Germany.

A Toastmaster since 2006, she is a member of Erlangen Toastmasters in Bavaria and served as International President for the 2023–24 term.

Fun Fact: Morag is only the second International President from Europe and the first female International President from outside North America.

Free Webinar

On March 5, 2025, Morag will moderate a special free webinar:
Women Reflect on the Leadership Journey, featuring a live panel discussion and Q&A with her fellow Executive Committee members:

• Radhi Spear, DTM – Toastmasters International President
• Aletta Rochat, DTM – President-Elect
• Gauri Seshadri, DTM – Second Vice President

Listen to Our Previous Interview

You can also check out our previous interview with Morag from September 2023:
🎧 Episode #236: Never Close the Circle—2023–24 International President Morag Mathieson, DTM.