49 influential women in business quotes (2025)

49 young women in business quotes to inspire you

1. “Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” – Coco Chanel
2. “The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves.” – Barbara Corcoran
3. “Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.”– Vera Wang
4. “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington
5. “I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Virginia Romerty
6. “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” – Madame C.J. Walker
7. “Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to like.” – Emma Watson
8. “Never take no personally. Sometimes people tell you no for a reason that has nothing to do with you. You must keep going.” – Sofia Vergara
9. “The most successful entrepreneurs I know are optimistic. It’s part of the job description.” – Caterina Fake
10. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough” – Oprah Winfrey
11. “Do not follow where the path might lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.” – Muriel Strode
12. “You are never too young to make a difference.” – Greta Thunberg
13. “I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rometty
14. “Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
15. “Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want,” – Dianne Feinstein
16. “I don’t like to lose — at anything — yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks.” – Serena Williams
17. “It’s okay to admit what you don’t know. It’s okay to ask for help. And it’s more than okay to listen to the people you lead- in fact, it’s essential.” – Mary Barra
18. “Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.” – Hillary Clinton
19. “I’m a maniacal perfectionist. And if I weren’t, I wouldn’t have this company.” – Martha Stewart
20. “Do not be afraid to make decisions. Do not be afraid to make mistakes.” – Carly Fiorina
21. “Leadership should be more participative than directive, more enabling than performing.” – Mary D. Poole
22. “Women and girls can do whatever they want. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama
23. “If you want it bad enough, you have to be willing to fight for it.” – Chalene Johnson
24. “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rommety
25. “Stick to your true north – build greatness for the long term.” – Ruth Porat
26. “I like to say it’s an attitude of not just thinking outside the box, but not even seeing the box.” – Safra A. Catz
27. “Embrace the courage to lead with your authenticity; your unique voice holds the power to inspire change.” – Indra Nooyi
28. “Innovation thrives on a diet of diverse perspectives; the boardroom needs every shade of thought.” – Ursula Burns
29. “Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” – Sheryl Sandberg
30. “Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford
31. “The key to success is to start before you’re ready.” – Marie Forleo
32. “Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” – Whitney Wolfe Herd
33. “To be outstanding, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” – Mellody Hobson
34. “Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination.” – Melinda Gates
35. “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally; it comes from what you do consistently.” – Anne Sweeney
36. “Building a brand means knowing your story and building and sharing that story.” – Tamara McCleary
37. “Lead from the heart, not just the head.” – Jacqueline Novogratz
38. “The most effective way to do it is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart
39. “Fearlessness is like a muscle. The more I exercise it, the more natural it becomes.” – Arianna Huffington
40. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
41. “Resilience is the cornerstone of every success story.” – Jessica Herrin
42. “Success is not about being the best. It’s about always getting better.” – Behance’s 99U
43. “True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed.” – Sheryl Sandberg
44. “If you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.” – Erica Jong
45. “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.” – Marianne Williamson
46. “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” – Coco Chanel
47. “Don’t wait for permission to be great.” – Debra L. Lee, former CEO of BET Networks
48. “Run your own race. Who cares what others are doing? The only question that matters is: Am I progressing?” – Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States
49. “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” – Brené Brown, researcher and author

Conclusion

From leading companies to launching innovative startups, women can bring a wealth of talent and fresh perspectives. Despite these contributions, there’s still room for growth in female leadership and business ownership. We hope that these carefully selected quotes about women in business inspire you to be more confident in your career goals and ignore the naysayers.