Famous women of leadership, entrepreneurial women, self-made business women or great ladies in strong political positions… More and more women of influence are gaining recognition and changing the world.
In this article, I have gathered hundreds of quotes from the most famous women of influence and power.
These quotes will reveal to you how these women who are now considered to be part of the small circle of the most powerful, listened to and respected personalities in the world think and feel.
I. Quotes from women who created an empire by launching their own business
Confronted with the many obstacles created by the simple fact of being a woman (accessing funding, lack of support, pressure from society to juggle a professional and personal life, etc.), it is still difficult for a woman entrepreneur to take a business project as far as she would like. However, through self-sacrifice and determination, more and more women are starting successful entrepreneurial adventures.
Start-uppers, designers, computer nerds or artists, here are quotes from some of these women of influence who turned their business into an empire.
1. Melanie Perkins
Founder and CEO of Canva, an online graphic design tool.
- “Find things you’re passionate about and invest yourself in those things 110%.”
- “The rejection is often not because of the reasons you think they are rejecting you.”
- “Plant lots and lots of seeds and hopefully one will grow!”
- “If you are determined and want it, you can just go for it.”
- “Solve customer problems and make sure that the customer is representative of a large market and then you will have a pretty good formula.”
- “Kitesurfing was key to the success of Canva!”
- “If you get your foot in the door just a tiny bit, you have to kind of wedge it all the way in.”
- “If you can offer a free tier that provides a lot of value, it will naturally help your product to spread much more rapidly.”
- “I’ve poured my heart and soul into everything I’ve done and I’ve come to realise that if I work really, really hard I’ll usually succeed – or at least learn a lot along the way.” “Confidence is key to success”
- “The most important thing is to start.”
- “Every lesson you learn in a company that is starting up arrives just in time, or sometimes just after you needed to know it.”
- “You have to believe in yourself and your vision for a very long time before anyone else will.”
- “Why we believe so strongly in being a mission-and-goals-driven company is once you believe in where you’re going together, then you can set goals along the way, and it makes all those small decisions a lot simpler.”
- “Anyone can have a solution, but if no one cares about it, unfortunately, you are not going to have a very big company.”
2. Beyonce Knowles
Founder and CEO of Parkwood Entertainment, a music, cinema and television show production company.
- “Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.”
- “I truly believe that women should be financially independent from their men. And let’s face it, money gives men the power to run the show. It gives men the power to define value. They define what’s sexy. It’s ridiculous.”
- “The reality is: sometimes you lose. And you’re never too good to lose. And you’re never too big to lose. You’re never too smart to lose.”
- “The more I mature, the more I understand my value.”
- “Do what you were born to do. You just have to trust yourself. Trust yourself, Learn from your mistakes.”
- “If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.”
- “Don’t try to lessen yourself for the world; let the world catch up to you.”
- “We are all the same and we all want the same things: the right to be happy, to be just who we want to be and to love who we want to love.”
- “My mother always taught me to be strong and to never be a victim. Never make excuses. Never expect anyone else to provide for me things I know I can provide for myself.”
- “I started cooking. It’s great being a woman instead of a star who spends her time travelling.”
- “If you are with the right person, it brings out the best version of you.”
- “You can’t appreciate the good times without the bad ones.”
- “Don’t judge people. You don’t know what they have been through.”
- “Take the time to define yourself and define your value If you’re having a hard time doing that, ask yourself: What is something I would say to someone I love?”
3. Oprah Winfrey
Founder and CEO of Harpo Productions, an American multi-media production company
- “The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.”
- “Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”
- “We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”
- “Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
- “You become what you believe, not what you think or what you want.”
- “Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you, too, will keep encountering challenges. It is a blessing to be able to survive them, to be able to keep putting one foot in front of the other—to be in a position to make the climb up life’s mountain, knowing that the summit still lies ahead. And every experience is a valuable teacher.”
- “You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.”
- “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
- “There is one irrefutable law of the universe: We are each responsible for our own life.”
- “Getting older is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
- “Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives”
- “You can either see yourself as a wave in the ocean or you can see yourself as the ocean.”
- “When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are.”
- “Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and there discovered was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.”
4. Estée Lauder
Founder of Estée Lauder Companies Inc., an international cosmetics and perfume company.
- “Beauty is an attitude.”
- “Risk taking is the cornerstone of empires.”
- “If you don’t sell, it’s not the product that’s wrong, it’s you.”
- “Confidence breeds beauty.”
- “Most good ideas sparkle in simplicity, so much so that everyone wonders why no one ever did it before.”
- “I believe that potential is unlimited – success depends on daring to act on dreams.”
- “Whatever you give comes back to you.”
- “All great things begin with a vision… a dream.”
- “The most beautiful face in the world? It’s yours.”
- “Your mother probably told you this. She’s right.”
- “When I thought I couldn`t go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck.”
- “Business is there if you go after it.”
- “Serenity is pleasant but it lacks the ecstasy of achievement.”
- “Keep an eye on the competition. But this doesn’t mean copying them.”
- “Projecting your mind into a successful situation is the most powerful means to achieve goals.”
- “First comes the shy wish. Then you must have the heart to have the dream. Then you work. And work.”
- “I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.”
- “It’s one thing becoming successful, but it’s hard to stay that way. Who helped me? I helped myself.”
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
- “Trust your instincts: my first reaction is almost invariably the right one.”
5. Céline Lazorthes
Founder of the Leetchi Group, an online crowdfunding company and Mangopay, an online payment solution for stakeholders in the collaborative economy.
- “Success will never create demi-gods!”
- “Not only is failure an opportunity to perfect yourself, in addition to that, failure is profoundly human. Failure makes people who appear to be less so accessible.”
- “Failure is also proof that nobody, despite wealth and success, is untouchable or immortal.”
- “My father said: “Once is okay, but not twice.” I try to apply this maxim by not making the same mistake several times.”
- “I really like this quote from Jeff Bezos that means a lot to me: “Every day is day one.”
- “I never stop questioning myself. I often wonder what Leetchi would be if there was someone else in charge!”
- “I try to banish ego from my decision making. I’m not the kind of boss who says “I make the decisions, and that’s final”.”
- “Human beings have the power to be both creative and show solidarity in difficult times.”
- “If you know an entrepreneur who manages to balance their personal and professional life, bring them to me!”
II. Quotes from some of the most powerful businesswomen in the world
Charismatic leaders and company directors, these experienced women of character are ambitious and determined. They fought to reign over the world of business that is still broadly dominated by men.
Recognised leaders at the helm of some of the biggest companies on the planet, they now stand among the most influential women in the world.
Discover the words and ideas of seven of them.
1. Indra Nooyi
Ex-CEO of PepsiCo (2006-2018).
- “Take a stand. Be known for your courage and confidence.”
- “The world is full of ideas today. If we don’t do it, somebody else is going to do it.”
- “If you don’t give people a chance to fail..you won’t innovate…if you wanna be an innovative company allow people to make mistakes.”
- “The only way that you run a company for the duration of the company and of the CEO is to invest in transformation when the world demands a transformation.”
- “Running a company the size of PepsiCo is like running a little republic.”
- “To be a CEO is a calling. You should not do it because it is a job. It is a calling, and you have got to be involved in it with your head, heart and hands (…). And if you are not willing to get into the CEO job that way, there is no point getting into it.”
- “Remain a lifelong student. Don’t lose that curiosity.”
- “My father was an absolutely wonderful human being. From him I learned to always assume positive intent. Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent.”
- “The biological clock and the career clock are in total conflict with each other. Total, complete conflict.”
- “If I hadn’t had mentors, I wouldn’t be here today. I’m a product of great mentoring, great coaching.. Coaches or mentors are very important. They could be anyone-your husband, other family members, or your boss.”
- “Most companies target women as end users, but few are effectively utilizing female employees when it comes to innovating for female consumers. When women are empowered in the design and innovation process, the likelihood of success in the marketplace improves by 144%!”
2. Mary Barra
CEO of General Motors (since 2014).
- “Do every job you’re in like you’re going to do it for the rest of your life, and demonstrate that ownership of it.”
- “Don’t confuse progress with winning.”
- “Not everything needs changing. Some things need protecting. And that can be just as important, challenging and rewarding as changing the world.”
- “My definition of ‘innovative’ is providing value to the customer.”
- “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
- “I believe that the auto industry will change more in the next 5-10 years than it has in the last 50.”
- “Whatever you decide to do, do it with passion and all of the energy that you have.”
3. Ginny Rometty
Ex-CEO of IBM (2012-2020).
- “Growth and comfort do not coexist. If everything is feeling comfortable, you probably need to sit down and do some goal setting.”
- “I ask everyone’s opinion when they don’t speak up. ” And then when they have an opinion, I’ll ask others to talk about it.”
- “Never love something so much that you can’t let go of it.”
- “Your value will be not what you know; it will be what you share.”
- “Don’t let others define you. You define yourself.”
- “You have to stick up for what you believe in. And that, to me, is the biggest thing you can do about driving inclusion.”
- “I’ve made lots of mistakes. Probably the worst one – I would say they tie. It’s either when I didn’t move fast enough on something, or I didn’t take a big enough risk.”
- “I learned to always take on things I’d never done before.”
- “I make time to exercise. (…) I think it’s got a lot to do with your ability to manage properly and stay focused. There’s no doubt about that.”
- “The most important thing for any of us to be in our jobs is curious.”
- “If you’re clear on what you believe, you have a great foundation to go make a market.”
4. Sheryl Sandberg
Ex-COO of Facebook (2012-2022).
- “Ask yourself the question “What would you do if you weren’t afraid”, and do it.”
- “At a certain point, it’s your ability to learn quickly and contribute quickly that matters.”
- “Careers aren’t ladders, they’re Jungle Gyms.”
- “Being confident and believing in your own self-worth is necessary to achieving your potential.”
- “I truly believe that the single most important career decision that a woman makes is whether she will have a life partner and who that partner is.”
- “Every job will demand some sacrifice. The key is to avoid unnecessary sacrifice.”
- “We need to accept that there will be tough times and that we don’t always have control. The upside is that those times can bring out the best in us and in those around us.” “I have never met a woman, or man, who stated emphatically, “Yes, I have it all.” Because no matter what any of us has—and how grateful we are for what we have—no one has it all.” .
- “Success for me is that if my son chooses to be a stay-at-home parent, he is cheered on for that decision. And if my daughter chooses to work outside the home and is successful, she is cheered on and supported.”
- “I realized that searching for a mentor has become the professional equivalent of waiting for Prince Charming.”
5. Ursula Burns
Ex-CEO of Xerox (2009-2016).
- “Believe that there are no limitations, no barriers to your success – you will be empowered and you will achieve.”
- “I’ve had many mentors, but the one that has the most impact was my mother.”
- “Where you are is not who you are.”
- “Impatience is a virtue.”
- “I want to stop transforming and just start being.”
- “This old notion that work is drudgery is nonsense. Most days, even back when Xerox was under siege, I could not wait to get to the office.”
- “I realized I was more convincing to myself and to the people who were listening when I actually said what I thought, versus what I thought people wanted to hear me say.”
- “Unlike people, companies outlive their founders and their leaders.”
- “The world is changing. We all know this. And as that world changes, if you don’t transform your company, you’re stuck.”
6. Safra A. Catz
CEO of Oracle (since 2014).
- “Hopefully in the future, generational challenges will be measured by achievement, not gender.”
- “Whether you’re a government entity, a large enterprise, or a startup, a true digital transformation takes advantage of technology to focus on the customer, automates work that does not need manual interference, and unleashes your people to truly make decisions that change the path of your company.”
- “I like to say it’s an attitude of not just thinking outside the box, but not even seeing the box.”
- “Oracle has grown and advanced because we’ve been consistently willing to cannibalize ourselves.”
7. Miuccia Prada
CEO of Prada (since 2014).
- “Always when I work I say, “Yes, it’s beautiful—but who cares? What is the reason?”
- “Women often don’t want to admit that they like fashion. And yet fashion enthralls everyone, from the taxi driver to the mega-intellectual. I have often asked myself why this is. I don’t know the answer.”
- “The world tends towards banality.”
- “Fashion is instant language.”
- “I really think alone, in bed, at five o’clock in the morning: “What do you really care about?””
- “Elegance is what stays with you, not fashion.” “Conceptual ideas can still be commercial.”
- “For me, dressing up is a versatile tool that helps you express … represent something. Sometimes you want to look powerful, sometimes serious or sometimes rich. We all want to represent something.”
- “I always loved aesthetics. Not particularly fashion, but an idea of beauty.”
- “Every day I’m thinking about change; it’s a constant anxiety and probably a reflection of society’s anxiety in general.”
- “I want to confront myself. I challenge and doubt myself. Basically, what I don’t like is to get bored.”
- “I do what I think is right.”
- “Women have the stress of being beautiful, of age and youth. Men don’t have all that. And with women, that stress causes a lot of mistakes and bad choices – a lot of not being their true self.”
III. Quotes from powerful women, famous for their political impact
Strong women, heroines, great ladies… There are many women with political influence, heads of States, government advisors or queens and princesses, who, through their position, their power and their commitment, have contributed to the course of History.
Among these contemporary women of influence, here are quotes from four emblematic women who greatly contributed to political decisions over the course of recent decades.
1. Michelle Obama
Lawyer, essayist, senator and First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
- “Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own.”
- “You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.”
- “I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.”
- “Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.”
- “Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”
- “If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn’t be here. I guarantee you that.”
- “Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we’re scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don’t have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.”
- “We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean… and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.”
- “I want our young people to know that they matter, that they belong. So don’t be afraid — you hear me, young people? Don’t be afraid. Be focused.”
2. Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Kingdom for more than 70 years (1926-2022).
- “When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”
- “’It has perhaps always been the case that the waging of peace is the hardest form of leadership of all.”
- “Humanity can only progress if we are all truly ambitious for what is good and honourable. We know the reward is peace on earth, goodwill toward men, but we cannot win it without determination and concerted effort.”
- “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
- “I have to be seen to be believed.”
- “I should like to have been a lady living in the country with lots of horses and dogs.”
- “Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.”
- “Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.”
- “Despite the huge constitutional difference between a hereditary monarchy and an elected government, in reality the gulf is not so wide … And each, in its different way, exists only with the support and consent of the people.”
- “I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice. But I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”
3. Hillary Clinton
Diplomat, lawyer, U.S. Secretary of State (2009-2013), First Lady of the United States (1993-2001).
- “Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.”
- “It is past time for women to take their rightful place, side by side with men, in the rooms where the fates of peoples, where their children’s and grandchildren’s fates, are decided.”
- “To all the little girls watching…never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world.”
- “Don’t confuse having a career with having a life.”
- “I’m always a little bit puzzled when any woman (…) says something like – and you’ve heard it – ‘well I believe in equal rights, but I’m not a feminist.’ A feminist is by definition someone who believes in equal rights.”
- “I always believed you could learn something from nearly everybody you meet, if you’re open to it.”
- “Everyone can change.”
- “The First Lady role is really difficult. It has no job description.”
- “Too many women in too many countries speak the same language – of silence.”
- “A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.”
- “Do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can.”
- “What did you do with the time and talents I gave you? God’s question.”
- “Every child needs a champion.”
- “Home is a child’s first and most important classroom.”
- “I choose my cards. I play them as best I can. And I move to the next hand.”
4. Angela Merkel
Chancellor of Federal Germany (2005 to 2021) and physicist
- “Neither the chains of dictatorship nor the fetters of oppression can keep down the forces of freedom for long.”
- “Always be more than you appear and never appear to be more than you are.”
- “A good compromise is one where everybody makes a contribution.”
- “I am thankful for all the hard times I’ve been through and all the tears I’ve cried because that has put me as closer to God and made me the strong woman I am today!”
- “When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises.”
- “Look forward to the future and look forward to the unknown. Nothing stays the same and people change.”
So, which is your favourite quote from all these famous women of influence? We could have mentioned many other women of influence in this article who would enrich us with their vision! Is there someone you would like to see highlighted? If so, feel free to share their quotes in the comments!