Women’s History Month: 22 Inspiring Quotes by Women
Do you know what month this is? Seriously, it’s not a trick question. In case you are wondering, Women’s History Month is celebrated in March. And March 8th is International Women’s Day. Today, to celebrate Women’s History Month, I am focusing on inspiring quotes by women. I am raising up the voices of women. Join me in a virtual toast to women.
“I think the must-have power qualities for a female or male power leader are really the ability to focus, to work hard, to be extremely goal oriented and to not let the noise and the nonsense interfere with your mission – what you really feel you want to do with your career and your life.” Anne Sweeney
“I've been a medical and public health professional as well as a mother. I became skilled at juggling a number of priorities and competing interests. Like many other female leaders, I've tried to serve as a role model for the young women at my organization who are trying to balance a high-level leadership position and a family.” Margaret Hamburg
“It is very hard to be a female leader. While it is assumed that any man, no matter how tough, has a soft side… a female leader is assumed to be one-dimensional.” Billie Jean King
“People don't always want to have females as leaders.” Christina Aguilera
Today's girls are tomorrow's women – and leaders. Isabel Allende
“I'm not saying that women leaders would eliminate violence. We are not more moral than men; we are only uncorrupted by power so far. When we do acquire power, we might turn out to have an equal impulse toward aggression.” Gloria Steinem
“There is no city or country in the world where women and girls live free of the fear of violence. No leader can claim: ‘this is not happening in my backyard.'” Michelle Bachelet
“Technology may be traditionally perceived as a male-dominated industry, but it won't always be that way. Every day we see more and more powerful women leaders boasting outstanding achievements.” Clara Shih
“Men display less self-doubt and lead with what seems always like a sense of force and direction. We are not as familiar with women leaders, and so we question their skills. As women, we always need to work harder to prove our competence.” Maureen Chiquet
“Women are a dynamic economic force. We represent the largest consumer market in the world and are drivers of GDP. More and more companies recognize that when they support women as customers, employees, leaders, future investors and partners, they are adopting sound business strategies and advancing social progress.” Melanne Verveer
“I come from a long line of strong and confident women out of New Orleans. My grandmother and great-grandmother were women who ran their homes and were leaders in their communities. I was never taught that there was anything that I couldn't do, and I believed that.” Stephanie Allain
“But I do not believe that the world would be entirely different if there were more women leaders. Maybe if everybody in leadership was a woman, you might not get into the conflicts in the first place. But if you watch the women who have made it to the top, they haven't exactly been non-aggressive – including me.” Madeleine Albright
“The fact was that I had always been considered a leader in my scholastic career. It just never dawned on me that this was any kind of preparation for the business world. Like most young women of my background and education, I always performed on demand and never anything else.” Geraldine Stutz
“I always said that I want to write a book about success and my story and my brand and everything that goes with it, as a woman, as a leader, as someone who has stepped up to the plate and who opens the door for the rest of the women from the Middle East.” Reem Acra
“Women oftentimes are the ones making those economic decisions, sitting around the kitchen table and trying to figure out how to pay for rising gas prices or food prices or the health insurance costs. And I think that they see where they expect their leaders in Congress to also make those tough decisions.” Cathy McMorris Rodgers
It's time for male leaders to not only ask for binders of qualified women, but to re-write the definition of ‘qualified.' The best man for the job, may in fact, be a woman, whose biography is not traditional, but is rich with experiences and skills that are not necessarily learned either in school or on the job. Madeleine M. Kunin
“What is clear is that business leaders must commit to champion change – to be transparent about their goals for change, to align their incentives systems to drive the change, and to make sure their work environments are flexible in a way that allows men and women who choose to work to be able to achieve all of their potential.” Beth Brooke
You must do the things you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.” Oprah Winfrey
“People can judge me for what I've done. And I think when somebody's out in the public eye, that's what they do. So I'm fully comfortable with who I am, what I stand for, and what I've always stood for.” Hillary Clinton
“People say Malala's voice is being sold to the world. But I see it as Malala's voice reaching the world and resonating globally. You should think about what is behind Malala's voice. What is she saying? I am only talking about education, women's rights, and peace.” Malala Yousafzai
For all the women out there, I raise a virtual glass to you. Happy Women's History Month!
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