Empowering Business Insights: 6 Strong Women Quotes and Lessons
Entrepreneurship is a challenging yet transformative journey that countless others have embarked on before us, from whom we can learn. Here in Australia, we are especially fortunate to have many formidable women in business to be inspired by. Below are our 6 favourite lessons encapsulated by direct quotes from 6 female leaders.
Back yourself
In entrepreneurship, it’s vital to have unwavering confidence in your abilities so you can make bold decisions and take calculated risks.
Pip Marlow is a notable figure in the Australian tech industry, known for her leadership roles at Microsoft Australia, Suncorp Group and Salesforce.
In an interview with The Suite Collective, Pip said: “It’s about having that sense of self-belief and declaring my aspirations, while still being authentic and humble.”
The most valuable part of this first of 6 strong women quotes is how truly backing yourself is being able to explicitly and proudly share your goals with others. Sharing is also beneficial as it can create a sense of accountability and rally support.
So when was the last time you shared your aspirations to the world? It could be face-to-face with friends and family or even through a social media or blog post!
Customer service is key
In an increasingly competitive business landscape, you can gain the upper hand through exceptional customer service to build brand love. This is an effective way to retain existing customers and attract new ones to generate sustainable growth.
On customer service, the co-founder of Boost Juice, Janine Allis, said in an interview with SmartCompany that “the biggest thing people need to focus on is the staff interacting with the customers…You should constantly have an open dialogue and make sure it’s easy for them.”
For your own business, how are you focussing on your customers? Do you have a SLA or service-level agreement in place that guides your team on how often and how you respond to customers? It’s important that you have one so you can uphold a high-level of service.
Own your sh*t
In traditional employment, you might be able to lean on your managers or a HR team for decision-making and problem-solving. When you go out on your own, your success ultimately lies in your hands. Being able to take personal responsibility for your actions and outcomes is a fundamental aspect of entrepreneurship. Instead of this being daunting, we can instead frame it to be empowering!
Naomi Simson is the founder of RedBalloon. She is renowned for her ability to inspire authenticity and innovation in business, building successful ventures and empowering others to do the same.
On her blog, Naomi says, “If it is meant to be, then it’s up to me” — this is such a simple but powerful statement that captures what having a sense of responsibility and agency in your business (and in your life) means.
When times get tough, the tough get going!
Entrepreneurship is a test of resilience because there will undoubtedly be obstacles. Rather than approaching them with a ‘why me?’ attitude, accepting that challenges are part of it — and that every entrepreneur goes through them — helps you embrace them and emerge stronger on the other side.
“Know it’s hard for absolutely everyone…Realising that the struggle is a normal part of the process for every single person can be very empowering.” – says Melanie Perkins, the co-founder of Canva, in a SmartCompany article.
Make sure it’s not all business
Ultimately, your business is only one part of your life. It is essential to maintain a well-rounded perspective and ensure that your other passions and priorities are not neglected along your entrepreneurial journey.
Gail Kelly is a very respected former CEO of Westpac Banking Corporation, widely recognised for her achievements in the banking industry, her inclusive leadership style and her commitment to making a positive impact.
Even with all her accolades and responsibilities, Gail Kelly once said in her 2014 speech at St George Bank Foundation launch, “You need to make sure you live a whole life, which means be really clear on the priorities in your life and invest in them all the way.”
Looking at your calendar for the next fortnight, are you sufficiently investing in your relationships, your health and your hobbies?
Lift each other up
Collaboration over competition — it’s often quoted and for good reason. Uplifting and supporting one another is key to fostering a thriving business community that fuels innovation and collective success.
In a Q&A with Women In Digital, the founder and former CEO of Collective Hub, Lisa Messenger said, “I am a strong believer that all of us – no matter our gender, race, industry or geographic location should support each other and lift one another higher. I am all about reciprocity, abundance and collaboration. There is enough room for everyone.”
More than just strong women quotes
At Lift Women, we also wholeheartedly believe in “reciprocity, abundance and collaboration” and we actively work to foster all three. Some of the ways we lift all women in business up are:
- making funding accessible for all women through our zero-cost crowdfunding platform
- powering a circular funding ecosystem for female-led businesses through our membership offering, Lift Angels™
- creating a free Disco community that’s full of synergistic networking and learning opportunities
- sharing free valuable resources about crowdfunding and business on our blog.
If you would like to join in supporting your fellow female entrepreneurs, consider backing a project, becoming a Lift Angels™ member or part of our free Disco community or simply sharing a Lift Women article that you find interesting!
Additionally, if you are looking to launch your own crowdfunding campaign on the Lift Women platform, we also offer free 30-minute consultations to help you find clarity and strategy to maximise your chances of achieving a fully-funded project.
Here’s to finding inspiration through these strong women quotes as well as striving to be strong women ourselves!
