This women’s day let’s take a leaf out of the books of some of the extraordinary women who made history through sheer grit and unshakable persistence.
Gone are the days when women were not at the forefront. In this age, women are doing it all. From crafting successful careers, often shouldering responsibilities of a single-parent, being fearless spacefarers, to giving flight to their entrepreneurial dreams, women have proved that they are no less than men.
From Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, Mary Wollstonecraft, Florence Nightingale, Princess Diana, Amelia Earhart, Mary Shelley, to Mother Teresa, history is replete with instances of women who were bold, fearless, took risks, and most importantly, thought bigger and were fierce go-getters!
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With Women’s Day almost here, we couldn’t help but celebrate some of the iconic personalities who have spearheaded the path to success.
Never give up
Starting her career as the host of a local television show, Oprah Winfrey went on to launch her own television network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Billionaire and philanthropist, Oprah has earned international acclaim through her insanely popular program, The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Having an unsettled and problematic childhood didn’t deter her from pursuing her dreams unabashedly. Lauded as the most influential woman of her time, Oprah is deeply invested in children’s rights and the education of girls. Her dedicated activism led to the successful creation of an extensive database of convicted child abusers.
In her powerful Golden Globe Speech, Winfrey shed light on the acute importance of standing up to a culture distorted by men with power and envisioned a time when “nobody ever has to say ‘Me too’ again”.
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There’s no limit to what you can achieve
A champion of feminism, Michelle Obama has been a torch-bearer for the education of women. Her initiative, Let Girls Learn, has helped uncountable adolescent girls across the world to have access to education.
Her book, ‘Becoming’, gives voice to her deeply-entrenched faith in the dream she nurtures wherein women across the world will overreach their potential and remain undaunted in the face of challenges. A vigorous advocate of women’s rights, Michelle Obama dreams of a time when every woman of the world will have the opportunities that she and her daughters had.
Uplifting other women and standing strong as support to other women is a lesson that we derive out of her narrative. Women should stand up for each other, believes the former First Lady of America.
Never losing sight of one’s dreams, loving oneself and believing in one’s abilities even if no one else will are powerful lessons that Michelle Obama spells out for us.
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Adversity makes you stronger
Sheryl Sandberg is among the most powerful businesswomen in history. The chief operating officer (COO) of Facebook, she is a perfect example of how women should stand strong in the face of adversity.
With Facebook undergoing a turbulent phase, Sheryl did not distance herself from the heat. Instead, she showcased commendable fortitude in taking charge during times that have not been easy for Facebook.
Besides playing a pivotal role in giving shape to online advertising, Sandberg is also the first woman to serve on the board of Facebook. With her iconic 2013 bestseller, Lean In, Sandberg counselled women to give wings to their dreams unapologetically.
‘Women can always have it all’ is what Sheryl Sandberg believes. Her book urges all women to assert themselves across both their personal as well as professional lives.
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There’s always room for improvement
Having consistently ranked among the world’s 100 most powerful women, Indra Nooyi is a force of positivity. As the former President and Chief Financial Officer of PepsiCo and the current Board Member of Amazon, she firmly believes in the power of choice and the importance of bringing together what’s best for a business and what’s best for the world.
Her fervent belief in striving for the better is what breathes a sense of optimism into her approach towards business. She believes that true success lies not in the designation you hold but in the effort that goes into constant learning and widening the horizon of your outlook.
Her message to the women out in the world is to embrace the curiosity of a learner. Indra Nooyi believes that it’s a great time to be a woman with the insurmountable opportunities presented to us and urges women to never hold back but unleash our dreams without restraint.
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Playing safe is never an option
Bethany Hamilton’s story is testimony to how the greatest of battles can be faced bravely and how what seems to be the darkest setbacks can be overcome. Don’t believe us? Read on.
In 2003, the professional American surfer survived a deadly shark attack. Even losing her left arm to a 15-foot tiger shark was not reason enough for Bethany to be too traumatised to ever surf again.
Since the attack, Hamilton has often been branded as a ‘shark-attack survivor’. However, her focus never shifted. Adversity has merely been an episode of her life, not the larger picture. Over the past decade, Hamilton married, become a mother, and reclaimed her narrative – one that belongs to professional surfers of global repute.
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While the world at large is still quite scornful when it comes to successful women, there are several women leaders who’ve stepped up to take charge of the situation and change the dismissive attitude meted out to the majority of women.
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Banks too are not far behind. The array of financial products that are specifically designed for women is increasing by the day. Currently, financial institutions and lenders are taking stock of the purchasing power of women.
By taking cognizance of the financial needs of women, banks are coming up with products such as Credit Cards, Personal Loans, and Insurance plans among others that are crafted keeping in mind the unique needs of women. Apply for a Credit Card through BankBazaar now and get an Amazon Voucher worth Rs. 2,000!
If you’re ready to set sail towards your entrepreneurial goals or looking for insurance or even looking for a cashback Travel Credit Card to unlock the inner traveller in you, we’ve got your back!
Sources: surfer.com, notablebiographies.com, fortune.com, and rediff.com