Top 100 Most Inspiring Business Women Quotes of All Time

The best women in business quotes reflect women’s innovative roles in various industries worldwide.

From the co-founder of The Body Shop, Anita Roddick, to the former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, these inspiring quotes will prime you for success.

Continue reading and discover all the best business women quotes to help motivate your life for the better.

The 100 Best Business Women Quotes of All Time

An increasing number of women dominate industries, from becoming the best mom influencers on Instagram to running multinational corporations.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled this collection of quotes covering the key female figures in business and more obscure women of influence.

Get ready to be motivated, as here's our list of the 100 best business women quotes of all time:

100. “Stay true to yourself and your vision. Don’t let any one person’s opinion move you; listen, but be confident.”

- Amanda Kahlow, Former Tech CEO/Founder/ Exec Chair

99. “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, African American Entrepreneur

98. “Whatever it is that you think you want to do, and whatever it is that you think stands between you and that, stop making excuses. You can do anything.”

- Katia Beauchamp, CEO Of Victoria Beckham Beauty

97. “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.”

- Sheryl Sandberg, Technology Executive

96. “What sets you apart can sometimes feel like a burden, and it’s not. And a lot of the time, it’s what makes you great.”

- Emma Stone, Actress

95. “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, Former Politician

94. “I’m a maniacal perfectionist. And if I weren’t, I wouldn’t have this company.”

- Martha Stewart, Retail Businesswoman, Writer, And Television Personality

93. “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

- Coco Chanel, Fashion Designer And Businesswoman

92. “Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady

91. “There is nothing like a concrete life plan to weigh you down. Because if you always have one eye on some future goal, you stop paying attention to the job at hand, miss opportunities that might arise, and stay fixedly on one path, even when a better, newer course might have opened up.”

- Indra Nooyi, Business Executive And Former Chief Executive Officer Of PepsiCo

90. “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, Businesswoman

89. “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?”

- Ayn Rand, Author Of Atlas Shrugged And Philosopher

88. “Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that so it goes on flying anyway.”

- Mary Kay Ash,  Founder Of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc

87. “None of us can know what we are capable of until we are tested.”

- Elizabeth Blackwell, Physician

86. “Emotional intelligence is the ability to use emotion to increase your own and others’ success.”

- Annie Mckee, Business Author And Advisor

85. “Leadership should be more participative than directive, more enabling that performing.”

- Mary D. Poole, Former Association Football Player

84. "I think my story says that, when women are given the chance and the opportunity, that we can achieve a lot. We deliver."

- Sara Blakely, Businesswoman And Philanthropist

83. “I have never, ever focused on the negative of things. I always look at the positive.”

- Sonia Sotomayor, Lawyer And Jurist

82. “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

- Louisa May Alcott, Novelist

81. “Trying to do it all and expecting it all can be done exactly right is a recipe for disappointment. Perfection is the enemy.”

- Sheryl Sandberg, Technology Executive

80. “You are never too young to make a difference.”

- Greta Thunberg, Environmental Activist

79. “I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.”

- Ginni Rometty, Business Executive

78. “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, Writer And Activist

77. “I don’t like to lose — at anything — yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks.”

- Serena Williams, Professional Tennis Player

76. “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’re a great leader.”

- Indra Nooyi, Former Chief Executive Officer Of PepsiCo

75. “Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want.”

- Dianne Feinstein, Senator

74. “If you want it bad enough, you have to be willing to fight for it.”

- Chalene Johnson, Lifestyle And Business Expert

73. “The most successful entrepreneurs I know are optimistic. It’s part of the job description.”

- Caterina Fake, Entrepreneur And Businesswoman

72. “Do not follow where the path might lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.”

- Muriel Strode, Poet

71. “I like to say it’s an attitude of not just thinking outside the box, but not even seeing the box.”

- Safra A. Catz, Billionaire And Technology Executive

70. “True beauty is knowing who you are and what you want, and never apologizing for it.”

- Alecia Beth Moore, Singer, Songwriter And Actress

69. “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.”

- Mary Barra, Businesswoman

68. “There are no ugly women, only lazy ones.”

- Helena Rubinstein, Businesswoman, Art Collector, And Philanthropist

67. “Lean in, speak out, have a voice in your organization, and never use the word, ‘sorry’.”

- Trish Bertuzzi, Founder Of The Bridge Group

66. “As a leader, it’s a major responsibility on your shoulder to practice the behavior you want others to follow.”

- Himanshu Bhatia, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Of Ricovr Healthcare

65. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizen can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

- Margaret Mead, Cultural Anthropologist

64. “It is within everyone’s grasp to be a CEO.”

- Martha Stewart, Retail Businesswoman, Writer, And Television Personality

63. “Well, put some skates on and be your own hero.”

- Maggie Mayhem, Philanthropist And CEO

62. “There are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.”

- Indira Gandhi, Politician And Stateswoman

61. “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman, But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”

- Melinda Gates, Former Multimedia Product Developer And Manager At Microsoft

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

- Padmasree Warrior, Businesswoman And Technology Executive

59. “It’s our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

- J.K. Rowling, Author

58. “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, TV Host And Entrepreneur

57. “You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen.”

- Michelle Obama, Former First Lady

56. “The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn but to unlearn.”

- Gloria Steinem, Journalist And Political Activist

55. “Each person must live their life as a model for others.”

- Rosa Parks, Political Activist

54. “To stay ahead, you must have your next idea waiting in the wings.”

- Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Professor Of Business At Harvard Business School

53. "The most important thing a woman can have – next to talent, of course – is her own financial security."

- Katherine Graham, Newspaper Publisher

52. “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”

- Madeleine Albright, Former Politician

51. “Don't feel stupid if you don't like what everyone else pretends to love.”

- Emma Watson, Actress And Activist

50. “Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.”

- Vera Wang, Fashion Designer

49. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady

48. “Making the decision to not follow a system, or someone else’s rules has allowed me to really dig into what my own strengths and gifts are without spending time feeling jaded or wasteful.”

- Ishita Gupta, Model And Actress

47. “There are lots of opportunities out there for women to work in these fields; girls just need support, encouragement and mentoring to follow through with the sciences.”

- Sally Ride, Astronaut And Physicist

46. “Some leaders are born women.”

- Geraldine Ferraro, Politician, Diplomat, And Attorney

45. “It is pure mythology that women cannot perform as well as men in science, engineering and mathematics. In my experience, the opposite is true: Women are often more adept and patient at untangling complex problems, multitasking, seeing the possibilities in new solutions and winning team support for collaborative action.”

- Weili Dai, Former President Of Marvell Technology Group

44. “Follow your instincts and do what feels right in the moment, even if it goes against the rules or conventions you have been taught to follow.”

- Anne-Marie Slaughter, Political Scientist And Public Commentator

43. “The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves.”

- Barbara Corcoran, Investor And Syndicated Columnist

42. “Don’t wait for the right opportunity to come along. Make your own path and create new opportunities for yourself!”

- Tina Fey, Actress

41. “There are many things you can do overnight but there is no overnight success.”

- Tory Burch, Fashion Designer

40. “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, Actress And Model

39. “At the end of the day, you are the only one that is limiting your ability to dream, or to actually execute on your dreams. Don’t let yourself get in the way of that.”

- Falon Fatemi, CEO Of Fireside

38. “The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.”

- Oprah Winfrey, TV Host And Entrepreneur

37. “I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.”

- Virginia Romerty, Business Executive

36. “I realized that if I was willing to step up and be in the spotlight, I’d be able to make everyone else around me much more powerful as well.”

- Alaina Percival, CEO And Co-Founder Of Women Who Code

35. “If you’re not making some notable mistakes along the way, you’re certainly not taking enough business and career chances.”

- Sallie Krawcheck, CEO And Co-founder Of Ellevest

34. “Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to like.”

- Emma Watson, Actress And Activist

33. “Is it reckless? Maybe. But what do dreams know of boundaries?”

- Amelia Earhart, Aviation Pioneer And Writer

32. “I don’t think of myself as a powerful woman. I think of myself as someone who has access to power and chooses to use it wisely.”

- Angelina Jolie, Actress And UN Ambassador

31. “Building a brand means knowing your story and building and sharing that story.”

- Tamara McCleary, Founder And CEO Of Global Digital Marketing Agency

30. “I think the girl who is able to earn her own living and pay her own way should be as happy as anybody on Earth. The sense of independence and security is very sweet.”

- Susan B. Anthony, Social Reformer And Women's Rights Activist

29. “I got lucky because I never gave up the search. Are you quitting too soon? Or are you willing to pursue luck with a vengeance too?”

- Jill Konrath, Sales Strategist, Speaker, And Author

28. “Do what you love and success will follow. Passion is the fuel behind a successful career.”

- Meg Whitman, US Ambassador To Kenya

27. “My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn't have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don't be afraid to fail.”

- Sara Blakely, Businesswoman And Philanthropist

26. “Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.”

- Marie Curie, Physicist And Chemist

25. “If you follow your heart, if you listen to your gut, and if you extend your hand to help another – not for any agenda, but for the sake of humanity – you are going to find the truth.”

- Erin Brockovich, Environmental Activist

24. “And if the end result is that someone, somewhere winds up believing they can do something out of the ordinary, well, then you’ve really made it.”

- Angela Ahrendts, Former Senior Vice President Of Retail At Apple Inc

23. “Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.”

- Sara Blakely, Businesswoman And Philanthropist

22. “I was taught to strive, not because there were any guarantees of success, but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life.”

- Madeleine Albright, Former Politician

21. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer.”

- Harriet Tubman, Political Activist

20. “One of the best things you can do is stop and listen; that’s why it’s good to not just immediately respond when someone talks to you. Just stop and make sure you internalized what they said.”

- Lori Richardson, B2B Sales Growth Speaker

19. “Stick to your true north― build greatness for the long term.”

- Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer Of Alphabet

18. “If you’re not [learning], you’re falling behind. Somebody else is getting better as you’re becoming less valuable. I see so many irrelevant salespeople I want to cry. They stopped learning.”

- Jill Konrath, Sales Strategist, Speaker And Author

17. “I always want to make films. I think of it as a great opportunity to comment on the world in which we live.”

- Katherine Bigelow, Film Director And Producer

16. “The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of a mistake.”

- Meg Whitman, US Ambassador To Kenya

15. "Define success in your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.”

- Anne Sweeney, Former Co-Chair Of Disney Media

14. “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, Founder Of The Huffington Post

13. “Be an amateur. Not everything you do has to be good, especially at first.”

- Ann Handley, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author

12. “I’ve always been a bit of an introvert, but just because you don’t fit the classic mold doesn’t mean you can’t be a leader. You just need to find your own style and someone with a similar style who you can learn from.”

- Jess Lee, Venture Capitalist

11. “Stay true to yourself and your vision. Don’t let any one person’s opinion move you; listen, but be confident.”

- Amanda Kahlow, Tech CEO/Founder/Exec Chair

10. “Don’t cut off your career branches too early. Don’t step away from your career based on what ‘might’ happen.”

- Maru Barra, Chair And Chief Executive Officer Of General Motors

9. “Do not be afraid to make decisions. Do not be afraid to make mistakes.”

- Carly Fiorina, Businesswoman And Politician

8. “I've always believed that one woman's success can only help another woman's success.”

- Gloria Vanderbilt, Fashion Designer, Heiress, And Socialite

7. “If you think you can't, you won't. If you think you can, you will.”

- Linda Ward, Author

6. “If you are committed to creating value and if you aren’t afraid of hard times; obstacles become utterly unimportant. A nuisance perhaps; but with no real power. The world respects creation; people will get out of your way.”

- Candice Carpenter, Co-Chief Executive Officer And Chief Strategy Officer Of The Boston Congress Of Public Health

5. “I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.”

- Marissa Meyer, American Novelist

4. “Give us a world where half our homes are run by men, and half our institutions are run by women. I'm pretty sure that would be a better world.”

- Sheryl Sandberg, Technology Executive

3. “Growth and comfort do not coexist.”

- Ginni Rometty, Executive Chairman Of IBM

2. “There is no scientific answer for success. You can’t define it. You’ve simply got to live it and do it.”

- Anita Roddick, Founder Of The Body Shop

1. “I’ve never thought of myself as a female engineer, or founder, or a woman in tech. I just think of myself as someone who’s passionate.”

- Leah Busque, Founder Of TaskRabbit

Summary

The most successful entrepreneurs have shared many insights, whether they’re iconic fashion designers like Coco Chanel or former first ladies such as Michelle Obama.

Whether you’re starting a mom blog or a new company, these women in business quotes can help motivate you to succeed on your terms.

By putting these insights into action, you can join the ranks of powerful women around the world and transform your own life in no time.