Super Inspiring Advice From Top Business Women That You’ll Love

Here is what those 10 extraordinary women had to say about being successful.

Speak up

• “Speak up. Believe in yourself. Take risks.” – Sheryl Sandberg
• “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s the power of using your voice.” – Michelle Obama
• “I have had to learn that my voice has value  And if I don’t use it, what’s the point of being in the room?” – Michelle Obama
• “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” – Melinda Gates
• “Take a stand. Be known for your courage and confidence.” – Indra Nooyi
• “We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands  and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.” – Sheryl Sandberg
• “I was determined to be someone who told the truth, using my voice to lift up the voiceless when I could, and to not disappear on people in need.” – Michelle Obama
• “We need … to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” – Sheryl Sandberg

Have Boundaries

• “You have to be able to set boundaries  otherwise the rest of the world is telling you who you are and what you should be doing. You can still be a nice person and set boundaries.” – Oprah Winfrey
• “In order to thrive and be successful, you have to be able to set boundaries.” – Oprah Winfrey
• “I’m very honest – brutally honest. I always look at things from their point of view as well as mine. And I know when to walk away.” – Indra Nooyi

Stop People Pleasing

• “If our primary goal is to be approved of, then we are not going to take risks, we are not going to speak out, we are going to try and blend in.” – Arianna Huffington
• “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.” – Ursula Burns
• “The first thing I’d say to women is put aside the guilt. I think we’re all genetically programmed to feel guilty for not giving total effort at the job.” – Indra Nooyi

Have Self-advocacy

• “No one, I realized, was going to look out for me unless I pushed for it.” – Michelle Obama
• “I had to position myself to get five minutes in the door with buyers.” – Sara Blakely
• “We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.” – Michelle Obama
• “You know why I do it? I do it, because I want women to see that you do not get pushed around. You don’t run away from the fight.” – Nancy Pelosi

Be Authentic

• “Be your authentic self. Be yourself. Know your power.” – Nancy Pelosi
• “Don’t let others define you. Define yourself.” – Ginni Rometty
• “An important attribute of success is to be yourself. Never hide what makes you, you.” – Indra Nooyi
• “I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.” – Oprah Winfrey
• “Too many of us leave our lives – and, in fact, our souls – behind when we go to work.” – Arianna Huffington
• “You define your own life. Don’t let other people write your script.” – Oprah Winfrey