Women are playing an increasingly important role in the business world. In fact, in 1995, zero percent of CEOs at Fortune 500 company were women. By 2023, this number had increased to 10 percent of CEO’s being women.
Moreover, the pandemic offered women a glimpse of a better work-life balance, and they’re not looking back. While prioritizing personal lives is more important now, their career ambitions haven’t diminished.
Despite these successes, there’s still room for growth in female leadership and business ownership and we hope that these quotes about women in business inspire you to start your own entrepreneurial journey.
49 young women in business quotes to inspire you
- “Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.” – Coco Chanel
- “The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves.” – Barbara Corcoran
- “Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.”– Vera Wang
- “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
- “I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Virginia Romerty
- “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
- “Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to like.” – Emma Watson
- “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
- “The most successful entrepreneurs I know are optimistic. It’s part of the job description.” – Caterina Fake
- “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
- “Do not follow where the path might lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.” – Muriel Strode
- “You are never too young to make a difference.” – Greta Thunberg
- “I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rometty
- “Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want,” – Dianne Feinstein
- “I don’t like to lose — at anything — yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks.” – Serena Williams
- “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
- “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
- “I’m a maniacal perfectionist. And if I weren’t, I wouldn’t have this company.” – Martha Stewart
- “Do not be afraid to make decisions. Do not be afraid to make mistakes.” – Carly Fiorina
- “Leadership should be more participative than directive, more enabling than performing.” – Mary D. Poole
- “Women and girls can do whatever they want. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama
- “If you want it bad enough, you have to be willing to fight for it.” – Chalene Johnson
- “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rommety
- “Stick to your true north – build greatness for the long term.” – Ruth Porat
- “I like to say it’s an attitude of not just thinking outside the box, but not even seeing the box.” – Safra A. Catz
- “Embrace the courage to lead with your authenticity; your unique voice holds the power to inspire change.” – Indra Nooyi
- “Innovation thrives on a diet of diverse perspectives; the boardroom needs every shade of thought.” – Ursula Burns
- “Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” – Sheryl Sandberg
- “Balance is not something you find; it’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford
- “The key to success is to start before you’re ready.” – Marie Forleo
- “Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” – Whitney Wolfe Herd
- “To be outstanding, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” – Mellody Hobson
- “Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination.” – Melinda Gates
- “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally; it comes from what you do consistently.” – Anne Sweeney
- “Building a brand means knowing your story and building and sharing that story.” – Tamara McCleary
- “Lead from the heart, not just the head.” – Jacqueline Novogratz
- “The most effective way to do it is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart
- “Fearlessness is like a muscle. The more I exercise it, the more natural it becomes.” – Arianna Huffington
- “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Resilience is the cornerstone of every success story.” – Jessica Herrin
- “Success is not about being the best. It’s about always getting better.” – Behance’s 99U
- “True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed.” – Sheryl Sandberg
- “If you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.” – Erica Jong
- “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
- “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” – Coco Chanel
- “Don’t wait for permission to be great.” – Debra L. Lee, former CEO of BET Networks
- “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
- “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.
More must-read stories from Enterprise League:
- Debunking the most common myths of entrepreneurship.
- Innovative customer appreciation ideas for small businesses.
- Why hiring millennials might be the best decision you can ever make.
- The only list of novels for entrepreneurs that you will ever need.
- The importance of customer-focused strategy for your business.
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