40 Powerful Leadership Quotes by Women to Inspire Your Path Forward
If you're searching for inspiration, these leadership quotes by women are the perfect reminder of your strength, your voice, and your power to lead. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or striving to grow into the next version of yourself, these quotes from trailblazing women will fuel your motivation and help you stay grounded in your purpose.
From timeless wisdom to bold truth-telling, this list celebrates the voices of female leaders across industries — reminding us all that leadership isn't about titles. It's about vision, courage, and showing up fully as yourself.
“Every time we got a knock back and understood why people wouldn’t invest, we changed and revised our pitch. Failure was never an option.” — Melanie Perkins, Co-founder & CEO of Canva
“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.” — Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx
“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently.” — Marie Forleo, Entrepreneur & Author
“Have those uncomfortable moments. Because my strong personal belief is it is those moments that cause you to grow the most yourself, but that also differentiate you the most in your career.” — Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy
“There is no mountain that is insurmountable. Look out for opportunities. Knock on doors. If those doors are locked, break them open.” — Angela Oduor, Executive Director of Ushahidi
“A hiring manager once assumed I wouldn’t want a global role due to having young kids. By working alongside powerful women, I have learned that being a mother does not adversely affect one’s work but enriches it.” — Jen Bailin, Chief Commercial Officer at Nintex
“It’s important to find your passion, to be able to wake up every day and find that power. The work you’re doing must be meaningful to yourself.” — Erica Lee, CEO of Marquis Who’s Who
“Once you’ve reached this level of success, you must take an intentional step forward with the company you’re in or with one you want to pursue. Don’t sit back and wait. Take that step forward, and be persistent and confident.” — Julie Brewer, VP of Sales at Medtronic
“Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished.” — Lisa Cash Hanson, CEO of Snuggwugg
“Do the one thing you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never truly tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” — Oprah Winfrey, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
“The most successful entrepreneurs I know are optimistic. It’s part of the job description.” — Caterina Fake, Co-founder of Flickr
“Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out.” — Anita Roddick, Founder of The Body Shop
“What I wanted was to be allowed to do the thing in the world that I did best–which I believed then and believe now is the greatest privilege there is. When I did that, success found me.” — Debbi Fields, Founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies
“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” — Michele Ruiz, Entrepreneur & Author
“I do business with my heart as much as I do with my head, both personally and professionally.” — Ursula Burns, Former CEO of Xerox
“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.” — Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
“I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” — Ginni Rometty, Former CEO of IBM
“Lean in to vulnerability and authenticity. Build relationships. Be yourself. Be a great human and helpful colleague.” — Cindy McLaughlin, Head of Product at CarbonBuilt
“Bring your whole self to work. Authenticity is your competitive advantage.” — Claudia Brind-Woody, IBM Executive
“The biggest threats and dangers we face are the ones we don't see – not because they're secret or invisible, but because we’re willfully blind.” — Margaret Heffernan, Entrepreneur & Author
“The world is starving for new ideas and great leaders who will champion those ideas.” — Lisa Su, CEO of AMD
“The most significant barrier to female leadership is the actual lack of females in leadership. The best advice I can give to women is to go out and start something, ideally their own businesses.” — Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle
“Being able to put your blinders on, ignore negative opinions, and follow your strong intuition is what's validating to me.” — Whitney Wolfe Herd, Founder & CEO of Bumble
“Always question the status quo. And don't be afraid to speak up when you discover something that needs to be said.” — Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, CEO of Optus
“I needed to act. I couldn't just think, 'It's somebody else's job'.” — Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland
“You have been assigned this mountain so that you can show others it can be moved.” — Mel Robbins, Author & Motivational Speaker
“The sign of a great leader is knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know.” — Angela Ahrendts, Former CEO of Burberry
“If I didn't fill my schedule with things I felt were important, other people would fill my schedule with things they felt were important.” — Melinda Gates, Philanthropist & Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
“There will be people who say to you, 'You are out of your lane'. They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be.” — Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” — Sheryl Sandberg, Former COO of Facebook
“I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” — Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Laureate & Education Activist
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa, Missionary & Nobel Laureate
“Mistakes or challenges should be viewed as a chance to learn and grow rather than something that weighs you down.” — Angela Kelly, CEO of Lloyd’s Asia
“Just tell me I can't do it; that'll pretty much guarantee it gets done.” — Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company LLC
“Create your personal career strategy: goals that can be achieved within one, five, and 10 years. Be laser-focused on short-term goals and flexible about long-term ones.” — Liz Bacelar, Executive Director of Global Tech Innovation, Estée Lauder Cos. Inc.
“You are responsible for your career. You need to make a case for why you deserve a certain role or project, know your value, and most of all, be resilient.” — Jozica Habijanic, Head, Strategic Development, Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific
“Leadership isn't all about being the speaker or the loudest person in the room; it's also about listening to others with an open mind and empathy to learn from them.” — Emma Butler, Founder & CEO of Liberare
“We have to continue to position ourselves as leaders who are knowledgeable, transparent, and not afraid to bring up tough conversations to ensure everyone is aligned to driving the business objectives.” — Sandy Salerno, Area Vice President of Northeast Sales, Ethicon
“I believe listening is absolutely the most underrated skill and can be so helpful for allowing intelligent, curious people to realize their potential and thrive in their chosen path.” — Jessica Box, Head of Growth at Linktree
“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” — Michelle Obama, Former First Lady of the United States
