Inspirational quotes from America’s top women entrepreneurs and leaders
The United States of America has long been seen as a land of opportunity and potential. Men and women have achieved great success and built legacies for the ages throughout the nation’s history. In today’s age, the USA continues to be a major global hub for innovation, new business, and growth, and the country’s women are huge contributors to the same.
In its third annual list of ‘America’s Richest Self-made Women’, Forbes has 60 names who have a combined net worth of $61.5 billion. These women have built empires and established themselves as global business leaders through determination, hard work, innovation, and a desire to never settle for mediocrity.
We bring you some of the most inspiring quotes and sayings from these exemplary women and their experiences over their long and very successful careers:
Never give up, never back down
As anybody who’s been an entrepreneur or businessperson for a while will tell you, failure and stumbling blocks are lurking around almost every corner in the world of business. However, the trick is to not let these inconveniences stop you from moving forward; take them as lessons and move on towards success, wiser and stronger.
“I’ve always been very driven and knew that to get where I wanted to go, I could never give up.” – Diane Hendricks, Co-founder & Chairperson, ABC Supply
“You’ve got to embrace what you don’t know.” – Sara Blakely, Businesswoman
Who runs the world?
When Beyonce asks “Who run the world?” and responds with “Girls!” in her hit single Run the World (Girls), she’s not just making a catchy tune, but also a very strong point. Despite lingering issues of gender bias and discrimination, more and more women are breaking glass ceilings and achieving success, proving that “the fairer sex” is just as capable, if not more.
“I believe it is in the world’s interest to develop environments that fully engage women and leverage their natural talents.” – Weili Dai, Co-founder, Marvell Technology Group
“At the end of the day, both men and women who become CEOs have shown tenacity and hard work to succeed in their careers. It takes not just skills but also extreme dedication and commitment. And regardless of gender, CEOs are measured by the same criteria – the growth and success of the business.” – Susan Wojcicki, CEO, YouTube
Sharing the fruits of success
Achieving success should not blind entrepreneurs and executives to their responsibilities towards society and those they work with. Many business tycoons have stressed the importance and relevance of treating your stakeholders well, and not letting success get to your head. After all, sharing is caring, and you can’t overstate the importance of keeping your customers, suppliers, partners, and everyone else happy.
“Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.” – Vera Wang, Fashion Designer
“Any entrepreneur worth their salt knows that their brand is worthless if it doesn’t somehow contribute to society or the overall good of the planet.” – Lynda Resnick, Entrepreneur/Businesswoman
“Entrepreneurs have a great ability to create change, be flexible, build companies, and cultivate the kind of work environment in which they want to work.” – Tory Burch, Chairman, CEO, & Designer, Tory Burch LLC
Do you have a favourite quote or entrepreneur we’ve missed out on? What do you think of these women and their lessons? Let us know in the comments below!