17 Women in Business Quotes To Inspire + Motivate You

As women in business, we’ll all have moments of weakness, self-doubt and negativity creep up on us. Even the most positive, go-getting female entrepreneur will have those kinds of days. I can vouch for the truth in this. Ups and downs are a natural part of entrepreneurship.

Balancing womanhood (and all the beautiful chaos that entails!) alongside building a business is no small feat. To have even found the courage to believe in your dreams, and to fight uphill to get started, no matter how big or small your business may be, is truly commendable. If you haven’t already heard this today, take it from me: You are brave, strong and ambitious and you WILL reap the rewards of your hard work!

Having the right mind frame completely transforms your outlook, approach and productivity levels. I’ve always found saving a collection of uplifting, motivational quotes and sayings helps me find my stride again whenever I’m falling into the abyss of self-doubt and overwhelm.

I’m sharing some of those quotes with you today, to motivate and inspire you into action. Save or pin these morale-boosting, empowering women in business quotes for later, to keep you going when you feel like quitting.

On Embracing Motherhood and Life Alongside Your Business

#1: “I’m not afraid of hard work. I’ve had some great jobs along the way, but the most meaningful and rewarding work I’ve done has been as a mother and a homemaker.”

— Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics and vocal advocate for women in entrepreneurship

This quote is from one of the most impactful, trailblazing female entrepreneurs of her times. It is incredibly comforting to know that despite her wildly successful and influential career, she acknowledged and embraced the joys of motherhood, instead of viewing it as a distraction from work.

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#2: “You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once. Embrace the different seasons in your career and life.”

— Leah Busque, former CEO of TaskRabbit

In both life and business, some seasons of life are erratic, some are slow, and some have you unable to sleep from the jitters of excitement. Whichever season you’re in right now, it’s a part of the ebb and flow of life. Accepting this will quell that disappointing struggle of wanting it all at once!

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#3: “People don’t take opportunities because the timing is bad, the financial side unsecure. Too many people are overanalyzing. Sometimes you just have to go for it.”

—Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder of CloudFlare

I’m sure this one sure hits home for a lot of us. How many times have you found yourself waiting for the ‘perfect time’ to roll around before you make that move, start that task or build that idea? Especially as women, it’s so easy for us to de-prioritise our goals. Why? Because we’re programmed to prioritise our homes, families and basically everything else above all, before we focus on ourselves. If you’re guilty of this, please know that waiting for the perfect time to start is futile. The perfect time doesn’t exist – life will always be busy and it’ll always be easier to play it safe. Taking that big, scary step is always going to reward your business more than waiting around.

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#4: “Don’t get caught in a false dichotomy that says you can either be a great mother or a great business owner. You can absolutely have both.”

— Jessie Parker, entrepreneur

This is perhaps the most empowering, freeing thing you can know as a woman in business. You can enjoy the success of your business AND enjoy motherhood too. It may not be easy all the time, it may take a lot of planning, time management and organisation – but it’s possible.

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On Women in Business Shattering Glass Ceilings

#5: “Women and girls can do whatever they want. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.”

— Michelle Obama, attorney, writer and the first African American First Lady

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#6: ”The glass ceiling that once limited a woman’s career path has paved a new road towards business ownership, where women can utilize their sharp business acumen while building strong family ties.”

— Erica Nicole, founder of YFS Magazine

Women are making huge breakthroughs and pioneering huge changes business. These are opportunities we didn’t have just a few short decades ago. And we can do all this whilst also making a meaning contribution to the world and prioritising of our families.

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#7: “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, the first African American millionaire

Inspiring words from a woman who broke down stereotypes and cultural expectations to pave her own path in business and make history!

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On Women’s Empowerment in Business

#8: “The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.”

— Roseanne Barr, actress, comedian, writer, and producer

Many women may have yet to learn this. But we can do ourselves justice by learning this now, and seizing power over our lives, finances and businesses. A woman who knows her power is an unstoppable force to be reckoned with!

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#9: “I want every little girl who’s been told she’s bossy to be told again she has leadership skills.”

— Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook, philanthropist and writer

How many of us were told growing up we were too bossy, too talkative, too loud or too opinionated? Imagine if we reframed our ‘difficult’ traits as traits that benefit us? Imagine what would have happened to our confidence if we had been told we’re assertive, well-spoken, creative leaders with an inspiring vision? If we were praised and celebrated for those very traits because they are what make a successful, confident entrepreneur? I’m certain the world today would have had SO many more successful women in business if this had been the norm.

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#10: I was once afraid of people saying, “Who does she think she is?” Now, I have the courage to stand and say, “This is who I am.”

— Oprah Winfrey, TV show host, producer, actress and author

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#11: “Don’t blame your parents, don’t blame your boyfriend, don’t blame the weather. Accept the reality, embrace the challenge, and deal with it. Be in charge of your own life. Turn negatives into positives and be proud to be a woman.”

— Diane Von Furstenberg, CEO and fashion designer

One of the vulnerable side of running a business is having to accepting responsibility in it’s harshest, most raw form. If you do well, make bank and achieve your goals, it’s because you executed your business well. And if you make consistent losses, bad decisions and become distracted from your goals… well, that’s something you need to have an honest discussion about with yourself. Playing the blame game doesn’t translate to success in business – at some point you have to understand ‘I need to do whatever I have to do to make this work, because this is for ME‘.

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On Being a Passionate Business Woman

#12: “It’s not wrong to be passionate about your career. When you love what you do, you bring that stimulation back to your family.”

— Allison Pearson, columnist and author

You know that beautiful, fulfilled feeling when you’ve just done something that you love and it ignites so many positive emotions in you? How it brings a spring in your step, a smile on your face and how you just move so much lighter and happier? When you’re passionate about your business and it truly lights up your soul, your family benefits from it because they see that fulfilled, joyous side of you. And the impact of a positive, passionate female role model in the family is uplifting for everyone.

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#13: “Build your business success around something that you love — something that is inherently and endlessly interesting to you.”

— Martha Stewart, television personality, writer and business woman

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On Supporting Other Women

#14: “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 of Women Who Code and vocal advocate for advancing women’s careers and wealth

When a woman harnesses her inner leader, it can have a ripple effect on the community for generations to come. You’re allowing your success to set a precedent for others. You set an example for other women, giving them permission to also embrace ambition, wealth and independence. And truthfully, that is a powerful legacy.

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#15: “You’re not in competition with other women. You’re in competition with everyone.”

— Tina Fey, comedian, actress, writer and producer

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On Making The World a Better Place Through Business

#16: “What I learn from talking to so many women around the world: If you can empower them with the right things, the right tools. They can lift their family. And that ultimately lifts their community and their society.”

— Melinda Gates, former product developer and manager at Microsoft, one of the most powerful women in the world (Forbes)

This quote highlights how the betterment of women leads to the betterment of entire communities and societies. So don’t shy away from reaching out to access the tools and resources that will allow you to flourish, and in that same stroke, be generous when helping other women with finding those tools too!

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#17: “I can promise you that women working together – linked, informed and educated – can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet.”

— Isabel Allende, writer

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I hope these quotes have renewed your drive, ambition and focus. Ladies, the path we have chosen isn’t the easier – but the rewards we’ll see if we stick it out are worth the struggle. It’s worth it for us, for our families, for other women. I’m rooting for you, you got this 🫶.

If you enjoyed this post, consider sharing it with someone else who could do with the support and motivation!

And if you’d like more business advice, guidance and support, I’d love to keep in touch with you! I’m Aaminah Amin – fellow female entrepreneur, best-selling author, multi-6-figure business owner and a woman of colour. You can read more about me here.

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