Leadership Quotes From Women Who Lead

As a woman in business, you likely face unique challenges and hurdles that your male counterparts don’t. It can be tough to maintain your confidence and stay motivated when the going gets tough. That’s why it’s important to find inspiration in others, whether it comes from other successful women entrepreneurs or motivational quotes.

Leadership quotes to inspire women in business from women who lead:

“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

“The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have.” – Padmasree Warrior

“Leadership is not about necessarily being the loudest in the room, but instead being the bridge, or the thing that is missing in the discussion and trying to build a consensus from there.” – Jacinda Ardern

“Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want.” – Dianne Feinstein

“Leadership is turning problems into opportunities. It’s showing up for yourself and your people every day. Choosing to pursue your passion and using your talents to enhance other people’s overall experience.” – Jess Parker

“Part of leadership is knowing when to go ahead with a decision that’s within your authority because you’re really convinced it’s the right thing, even if other people don’t understand it at that point.” – Dr. Ingrid Mattson

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” – Rosalynn Carter

“Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good.” – Joanne Ciulla

“Leadership is hard to define, and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.” – Indra Nooyi 

“To me Leadership is a position of honor and stands as a source of influence, whose ripple effect has the potential to go far and wide. Leadership is a game of dominoes and you must take sustained responsibility for your actions, behaviors, guidance, counsel and stewardship.” – Crystal Rae

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” – Sheryl Sandberg

A good leader is able to paint a picture of a vision for the future and then enlist others to go on the journey with her. A truly conscious leader recognizes that it is not about her, but that the team is looking to her for inspiration and direction. Keeping her ego in check is essential.” – Tamra Ryan

“For me, leadership is making a difference. It’s using your agency to bring about change.” -Melanie Verveer

“Leadership is about the team – the culture they keep and embrace, it’s about empathy for your customers, clients, employees and the communities where you do business, it’s about doing the right thing for the right reasons, being confident enough to take risks and responsible enough to think of those who your decisions and risks may affect.” – Kat Cole

"It is imperative that women take centerstage in leadership so that we can build better ways of existing on this planet!" - Rose Kaz, LBI Backstage Pass Founder

“It is imperative that women take centerstage in leadership so that we can build better ways of existing on this planet!” – Rose Kaz, LBI Backstage Pass Founder

“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it” – Marian Anderson

“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” – Dolly Parton

“The fastest surging woman leadership position is heading non-profit organizations. Women are not rejecting leadership positions — they’re rejecting politics.” – Celinda Lake

“Women in leadership roles can help restore balance and wholeness to our communities.” – Wilma Mankiller

“Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.” – Indra Nooyi

“Women are leaders everywhere you go, 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 breakdown walls and defy stereotypes.” – Nanci Pelosi

“One of the most important things for any leader is to never let anyone else define who you are. And you define who you are. I never think of myself as being a woman CEO of this company. I think of myself as a steward of a great institution.” – Ginni Rometty

“Leadership is influence. It’s not about being in charge, it’s about having an impact.” – Jennie Mustafa-Julock

“You have to look at leadership through the eyes of the followers and you have to live the message. What I have learned is that people become motivated when you guide them to the source of their own power, and when you make heroes out of employees who personify what you see in the organization.” – Anita Roddick

We hope the words of these strong, dedicated, and impactful women will motivate you to step into your power among the ranks of women who lead in this world!

Which of these quotes are your favorite?