Women in leadership need to be prepared for challenges. Also, other women in leadership need to mentor younger women so as to prepare them for leadership. Leadership is not easy for a woman.

As women, in our quest for success, we must remember to leave the door wide open for other women to walk the path that we’ve walked.

As women, we have the responsibility to support and mobilize those who come behind us.

I try to encourage young women to be willing to take risks, to stand up for the things they believe in, and to step up and accept the challenge of serving in leadership roles. (p250)

I think we need to expect and encourage our girls and women to lead and contribute.

We want to see more women in the leadership structures.

As women, we need to continue to rise in our capacity as leaders in civil society, private sector, public sector and other spheres-to look at how we can help each other thrive in environments where we grow, where we are supported and protected.

I wanted to prove that women can be leaders.

But I think it is important for all women who have succeeded and achieved in their own right, to find the time to mentor and create reality for this future generation.

Women need to be confident and assert their presence in meetings, etc. They need to know their strengths and use it to their advantage. Rising to the leadership position is about merit and what is brought to the table. The need to do a lot of personal development.

It’s okay to be vulnerable; it’s okay to show empathy. I think this is what female leaders are able to bring to the table and I would always advise them to embrace it as a quality and a strength. The fact we’re all talking about purpose is so encouraging because it brings a human side out in all of us.

Many of the women in this book were firsts. The first to be prime minister. The first to take a stand. The first to fly. Being the first is hard. It can be lonely and isolating. There is no road map, and people assume something is impossible simply because it hasn’t been done before. These women are leaders because they paved the way for the women who came after them. We walk in their footsteps and leave a well-trodden path for the women who come after us. As you read these pages, remember we have the potential to make life better for others. In our own small way, we can inspire, mentor, and encourage other women to do great things. So, don’t hold back. Don’t be silent. Don’t give in to fear. Be bold. Be adventurous. Be yourself. There will always be people who want to tell you what you can do and what you can’t. What is possible and what is not. I know because I have encountered those people throughout my life. Some of them were well meaning. But all of them wanted to limit my potential. Your potential is limitless. Your life — the life you want — is worth fighting for. So, fight.

It is important that women celebrate themselves but also that they don't only preach to the converted and go out there and win more allies for our struggle.

As women, we must also continue to show strength and courage, challenging assumptions and raising the bar in our homes, businesses, our chosen careers, management and public office.