• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

3

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

3

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
MPWMost Powerful Women

10 Powerful Women Celebrate Women’s Day By Sharing Their Favorite Life Advice

By
Valentina Zarya
Valentina Zarya
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Valentina Zarya
Valentina Zarya
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 7, 2018, 4:23 PM ET

International Women’s Day is upon us. This year’s theme is #PressForProgress, “a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity.” In the spirit of the holiday, Fortune asked ten powerful women how we can all press forward—and to share with us their favorite pieces of advice. Here is what they said:

1. Kristen Bell, actress and co-founder of This Bar Saves Lives

“Cher once told me if it doesn’t matter in five years, it doesn’t matter. When Cher tells you something, you listen. I find myself consistently applying this to many areas in my life. It’s really helped me learn to focus my energy on the things that truly matter, and how to let go of the smaller things that don’t always deserve the amount of attention we give them.”

2. Diane von Furstenberg, fashion designer and activist

“The most important relationship you have in life is the one you have with yourself and once you have that, every other relationship is a plus and not a must.”

3. Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Obama

“The best advice I’ve ever received is to push yourself outside of your comfort zone.”

4. Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff and Time’s Up campaign leader

“No one else will care more about your career than you.”

5. Ellen Kullman, retired chairman and CEO of DuPont; co-chair of Paradigm for Parity

“No one gives you power. Don’t wait or ask for permission. You have to take it. Just go get it done.”

6. Sophia Amoruso, founder and CEO of Girlboss

“My dear friend and colleague, Neha Gandhi, editor-in-chief and COO of Girlboss, once told me that ‘failure is not something to be feared; it is something to be cherished and celebrated.’”

Subscribe to The Broadsheet, Fortune’s newsletter for and about the world’s most powerful women.

7. Sarah Robb O’Hagan, CEO of Flywheel Sports

“My Dad always told me, ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’. He would remind me that playing it safe, and waiting for things to come was never a good recipe for success. He believed that you had to be willing to take risks and believe in yourself in order to see what you were truly capable of. It is timeless advice that has worked at so many different moments in my life. From my first job out of university when my application was rejected causing me to create a new path, to the many times in my career when I was willing to relocate to new countries and cities in the pursuit of new experiences.”

8. Esther Perel, psychotherapist and author

“Sometimes, the right thing to do is to leave, and sometimes, it is to stay. Every choice has its consequences.”

9. Brooke Baldwin, CNN journalist

“Embrace being uncomfortable. Revel in it. And when you get too comfortable… then it’s time to start looking for your next adventure.’”

10. Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods

“Invest in yourself and a healthy lifestyle everyday. How and what you eat, the way you move and rest your body, the things you say to yourself; body, mind, and spirit…it’s all connected. If you want to go live your best biggest life, have the most powerful impactful, purpose-driven life, you need to be at your strongest, most-nourished self.”

About the Author
By Valentina Zarya
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in MPW

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in MPW

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma speaks on stage at Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2026.
Big TechMicrosoft
‘Not an Allbirds Moment’: Xbox’s new CEO says she is grounding the console in gaming roots, not AI
By Sebastian HerreraJune 9, 2026
18 hours ago
BP’s new CEO Meg O’Neill rips up the energy giant’s playbook—and the ‘green’ era with it
EnergyBP
BP’s new CEO Meg O’Neill rips up the energy giant’s playbook—and the ‘green’ era with it
By Jordan BlumJune 9, 2026
18 hours ago
Opening offices in 120 countries is ‘not a badge of honor’—pick 30 instead says iconic former tech CEO
C-SuiteBrainstorm Tech
Opening offices in 120 countries is ‘not a badge of honor’—pick 30 instead says iconic former tech CEO
By Jeff John RobertsJune 9, 2026
20 hours ago
Marguerite Casey Foundation to donate half a billion by 2036 to help rescue “suffering” nonprofits under Trump
MPWphilanthropy
Marguerite Casey Foundation to donate half a billion by 2036 to help rescue “suffering” nonprofits under Trump
By The Associated Press and James PollardJune 9, 2026
22 hours ago
Inside Trump’s Oval Office deal machine
MagazineDonald Trump
Inside Trump’s Oval Office deal machine
By Alyson ShontellJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
The women running Europe in 2026 
MPWMost Powerful Women
The women running Europe in 2026 
By Sam BirchallJune 8, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
Economy
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
20 hours ago
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
Success
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
By Preston ForeJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 9, 2026
24 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, June 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 9, 2026
24 hours ago
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
Environment
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.