“A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.” —Maya Angelou (Civil Rights Activist and Poet)

“I could certainly say that I’ve never underestimated myself, there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious.” Angela Merkel German politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany

“Whatever title or office we may be privileged to hold, it is what we do that defines who we are … Each of us must decide what kind of person we want to be—what kind of legacy that we want to pass on.” Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan Queen Consort of Jordan

“I have never let gender get in my way. It has taken me over 30 years to get from a garage to the huge campus that we have today. And it’s been a long journey.” Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Indian Billionaire Entrepreneur Executive chairperson and founder of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited, a biotechnology company based in Bangalore, India.

“Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” – Mae Jemison, First African American woman astronaut in space

“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Liberian politician who served as the 24th president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa.

“Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.” —Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the United States House of Representatives