Girl Bosess:
You’ve heard of Girl Bosses – those self-made women who took life by the horns and made their own success. They inspire us all to dream big and work hard for what we want. But who are the best female motivational speakers to listen to when you need that extra dose of girl power? Get ready to be empowered and motivated by this list of ten phenomenal women who know how to move audiences. From overcoming adversity to breaking glass ceilings, their stories will speak right to your soul. These ladies aren’t just Girl Bosses – they’re forces of nature ready to ignite your inner fire. Let them inspire you to find your own voice and change the world. You’ll walk away fired up and ready to conquer. Get pumped for some serious motivation from these ten superstar speakers!
“Meet the Top Female Motivational Speakers”
Oprah Winfrey
When you think of inspiring female motivational speakers, Oprah Winfrey immediately comes to mind. For over 25 years, Oprah hosted her own internationally renowned talk show, using her platform to spread messages of hope, empowerment and positivity. Now, through her magazine, website and philanthropic work with the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, she continues to inspire millions of people around the world to live their best lives.
Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor who has spent over 20 years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She has written five #1 New York Times bestsellers, and her TED talk “The Power of Vulnerability” has been viewed over 35 million times. Brené encourages people to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, believe they are enough, and find the courage to be kind to themselves and others. Her authentic and compassionate message resonates with audiences worldwide.
Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of the international bestseller Eat Pray Love, which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Her books and talks center around embracing creativity, overcoming fear and self-doubt, and finding purpose and meaning in life. Elizabeth believes that “everyone is creative, everyone is a genius, everyone is an artist” and her words inspire you to tap into your own creative potential. With her signature humor and wisdom, Elizabeth motivates audiences to pursue their passions and live boldly.
Sheryl Sandberg: Facebook COO Turned Empowerment Advocate
As Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg has been instrumental in the company’s success. But in recent years, Sandberg has also become an important voice advocating for women’s empowerment.
A Powerful Role Model for Women
Sandberg’s 2013 book Lean In encouraged women to pursue their ambitions and not hold back in their careers. She argued that structural barriers and societal stereotypes have made it more difficult for women to advance in the workplace. The book was a blockbuster, starting an ongoing global movement to empower women.
The Lean In Foundation
Sandberg founded the Lean In Foundation to offer women the ongoing support and community they need to achieve their goals. The foundation organizes Lean In Circles where women can network and support each other’s personal and professional growth. They also work with companies on policies and initiatives promoting gender equality and women’s leadership.
Addressing Workplace Policy and Culture
Sandberg has pushed for policy changes like paid parental leave and affordable childcare that benefit both women and men. She has also called out instances of everyday sexism in the tech industry and beyond. While criticism has been leveled at the “Lean In” message for putting too much responsibility on women themselves, Sandberg’s advocacy has succeeded in sparking important conversations about gender dynamics in the workplace.
An Inspiring Vision
Through her books, speeches, and work with the Lean In Foundation, Sheryl Sandberg paints an inspiring vision of true partnership and equality between men and women, both in the home and at work. She is a role model for women seeking to fulfill their highest aspirations—and for a more just and equitable society as a whole.
Brené Brown: Vulnerability and Courage Researcher
Brené Brown has dedicated her career to studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She’s a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Her 2010 TEDxHouston talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” has been viewed over 40 million times and inspired her to write five #1 New York Times bestsellers.
The Gift of Imperfection
Brown’s first book, The Gifts of Imperfection, focuses on embracing our imperfections and cultivating compassion for ourselves and others. She teaches that we can only feel joy, gratitude, and happiness when we believe we’re enough. Perfectionism and self-doubt hold us back from living wholeheartedly and finding meaning in our lives.
Daring Greatly
In Daring Greatly, Brown examines how vulnerability and courage are inextricably linked. She argues that vulnerability is at the core of difficult emotions like fear, grief, and disappointment, as well as positive experiences like love, belonging, joy, and creativity. To live fully, we must find the courage to be vulnerable. According to Brown, vulnerability is “the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity.”
Braving the Wilderness
Brown’s latest book, Braving the Wilderness, is about finding the courage to stand alone and belong together. She teaches that true belonging only happens when we let go of what we think we’re supposed to be and embrace who we are. The wilderness she refers to is the place where we feel uncertain or exposed—it’s the space between belonging and not belonging. To find belonging, we must find the courage to stand alone and brave the wilderness of uncertainty and vulnerability.
Through her research and books, Brown has inspired millions of readers to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, find the courage to be who they are, and cultivate deeper connections with others. Her message of wholehearted living and daring greatly resonates with audiences around the world.
Melinda Gates: Philanthropist and Advocate for Women’s Rights
As co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates is one of the most influential female philanthropists and advocates for women’s empowerment. Since 2000, the foundation has donated over $50 billion to causes like global health, poverty reduction, and education.
Champion for Women and Girls
Melinda is a staunch advocate for women’s rights and empowering women in developing countries. The foundation has invested heavily in family planning, believing that when women have access to contraceptives and can plan their families, they are able to pursue education and career opportunities. The foundation also supports programs that aim to end practices like child marriage and barriers to women owning land or starting businesses.
Pushing for Change
Through her work with the foundation, Melinda pushes for policy changes and more innovation to solve pressing global issues like poverty and disease. She encourages world leaders and governments to make women’s rights and health a higher priority. At the same time, she calls on private sector companies to develop new technologies and make them accessible and affordable for those most in need.
Inspiring Role Model
With her poised yet determined demeanor, Melinda Gates is an inspiring role model, especially for young women. She proves that compassion paired with pragmatic solutions can change the world. Though she comes from a place of privilege, she has dedicated her life to helping others through acts of generosity and advocacy. Melinda shows what one woman can achieve when she finds her purpose and voice. She continues to motivate others to use their talents and resources to create a more just and equitable world for all.
Through her work at the Gates Foundation and beyond, Melinda Gates demonstrates the kind of female leadership that moves society forward in a positive direction. Her advocacy and generosity have made a huge impact on the lives of women and girls worldwide. Melinda inspires people around the globe to become champions for change in their own communities and make a difference through compassion and action.
Oprah Winfrey: Media Mogul and Self-Made Billionaire
Oprah is the epitome of a self-made woman. Born into poverty to a teenage single mother, Oprah overcame countless obstacles to become the first black multi-billionaire woman in North America. Through her talk show, media company, and other ventures, Oprah has inspired millions of viewers and readers around the world.
The Oprah Winfrey Show
At the age of 22, Oprah landed her first job in media as a news anchor in Nashville. She soon moved to Chicago, where her emotive style and ability to connect with guests led to her getting her own talk show. The Oprah Winfrey Show aired for 25 seasons between 1986 to 2011, becoming the highest-rated talk show in TV history.
Oprah used her show as a platform to promote self-improvement, spirituality and positivity. She brought on guests from all walks of life, giving many their first national exposure. Oprah’s emotive, empathetic interview style and her ability to get guests to open up about personal struggles made the show feel like an intimate conversation with a close friend.
OWN and Other Ventures
In 2011, Oprah launched the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), a lifestyle channel featuring uplifting and motivational content. OWN has since become a top cable network, though it struggled initially. Oprah has also found success as an actress, author, and philanthropist. Through her Angel Network charity and Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, Oprah has donated hundreds of millions to educational causes and disaster relief efforts.
Oprah is a shining example of dreaming big and never giving up in the face of challenges or self-doubt. She has shown us all that we have the power to shape our own destiny and lift others up along the way. Her message of hope, empowerment and finding your purpose has resonated with millions of people worldwide. Oprah’s story proves that with hard work, perseverance and a desire to make a positive impact, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.
Michelle Obama: Former First Lady and Education Advocate
As the first African American First Lady, Michelle Obama used her platform to advocate for education, health and women’s rights. Through her “Reach Higher” initiative, she encouraged students from all backgrounds to pursue further education after high school.
Advocating for Education
Michelle worked hard to spread the message that every child deserves the opportunity to go to college. She emphasized that higher education isn’t just a pathway to a job, but a pathway to a fulfilling life. She urged students not to self-select out of opportunities based on their circumstances. Her inspiring words and personal journey as someone who overcame obstacles resonated with many.
One of her most impactful programs was the FAFSA Completion Project. The FAFSA form is required for students to access federal student aid, but many found it complicated to fill out. Michelle’s initiative provided resources to help students navigate the process. Over the course of her time as First Lady, the national FAFSA completion rate rose by more than 50%. This opened the door for more students to access grants, work-study jobs, and low-interest federal student loans to fund their college dreams.
Inspiring Young Women
As a highly educated woman herself, Michelle was a role model for young girls. Her mere presence in the White House showed what was possible through hard work and perseverance. She spoke about overcoming self-doubt and not being hindered by what she calls “the tyranny of the expectations of others.” Her optimistic and empowering message taught girls to believe in themselves and not let their circumstances define them.
Michelle Obama continues to inspire people around the world through her bestselling memoir “Becoming.” Her journey is a reminder that where you start in life does not determine where you end up. With hard work, education and an unstoppable spirit, young people everywhere can achieve their full potential.
Reshma Saujani: Founder of Girls Who Code
As the founder of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani is passionate about closing the gender gap in technology. Through her TED talks and activism, she’s inspiring young girls around the world to bravely pursue careers in computing.
Inspiring Girls in Tech
Reshma started Girls Who Code in 2012 to address the lack of women in technology roles. The nonprofit organization aims to educate, inspire and equip high school girls with the skills to pursue 21st century tech jobs. Girls Who Code runs summer programs and after-school clubs across America, providing mentorship and teaching skills like robotics, web development and mobile app creation.
Overcoming Societal Expectations
In her 2016 TED talk, Reshma spoke about how from an early age, girls are socialized to be perfect and boys are socialized to be brave. Girls Who Code is working to combat this by empowering girls to take risks and be courageous in pursuing their dreams. Reshma herself had to overcome self-doubt and societal pressures to become a tech entrepreneur. Her story of perseverance in the face of obstacles serves as an inspiration to women in the tech industry.
A Vision for the Future
Reshma envisions a world with a million more women in technology jobs by the year 2030. Girls Who Code has already reached over 100,000 girls to date and continues expanding its programs across America. Reshma is determined to keep breaking down barriers until women are equally represented in technology leadership roles. Her goal is to see more girls following in her footsteps, overcoming self-doubt and forging their own path in tech.
Through her nonprofit organization and advocacy work, Reshma Saujani is motivating a new generation of girls to be brave, not perfect. She’s showing women everywhere that a career in technology is within their reach. Reshma is a true girl boss and role model, empowering women to achieve their dreams.
Jacqueline Novogratz: Social Entrepreneur Focused on Poverty Alleviation
Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder and CEO of Acumen, a non-profit global venture capital fund focused on poverty alleviation. Through her inspiring speeches and leadership, she has become a role model for female entrepreneurs and social activists around the world.
Novogratz believes that the poor have the capacity and creativity to lift themselves out of poverty if given the chance. Acumen invests in entrepreneurs in developing countries who are providing basic services like healthcare, education, and clean energy to people living on less than $5 a day. Rather than giving handouts, Acumen provides “patient capital” in the form of loans, equity, and grants to help entrepreneurs scale their impact.
In her talks, Novogratz shares stories of people she has met who have overcome immense struggles with dignity and courage. She highlights the importance of moral imagination – the ability to put yourself in another’s shoes and see their humanity. Moral imagination allows us to envision solutions to complex problems like poverty that go beyond charity and short-term fixes.
Novogratz is known for her authentic and compassionate leadership style. She admits that running Acumen is difficult, with many setbacks and failures along the way. But she perseveres by focusing on the people she serves rather than her ego or a desire for success. Her wisdom and passion have made her a [sought-after] inspirational speaker. If you’re feeling unmotivated or disheartened, listening to one of Novogratz’s talks will reignite your desire to change the world for the better.
Through her work with Acumen and her powerful message of hope, Jacqueline Novogratz is helping to build a more just and inclusive society. She is a shining light for anyone who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Malala Yousafzai: Youngest Nobel Prize Laureate and Girls’ Education Activist
Malala Yousafzai is a champion for girls’ education and women’s rights. In 2012, Malala, then only 15 years old, was shot in the head by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education in Pakistan. She survived the assassination attempt and went on to become the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in 2014. Her story of courage and perseverance in the face of oppression has inspired people around the world.
Malala’s advocacy began at a young age. When she was 11, she started writing blogs for the BBC about life under the Taliban and their edict banning girls from attending school. She gave speeches and interviews promoting education for girls, a controversial stance that led to death threats from the Taliban. On October 9, 2012, a gunman boarded her school bus and shot her in the head, nearly killing her. She was airlifted to the UK for intensive care and made a full recovery.
Rather than silencing her, the attempt on her life amplified her message. Malala continues to champion girls’ education and women’s rights on an international stage. She founded the Malala Fund, a nonprofit organization working to provide education opportunities for girls in developing countries. Her advocacy has led to policy and funding changes in several countries to support education, especially for girls. She has addressed world leaders at the UN and co-authored books like “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.”
Malala’s story of courage and sacrifice serves as an inspiration to people everywhere. Despite her youth, she has become a global leader and role model. Her unflagging advocacy for girls’ education and equality has already changed the lives of millions of girls who now have access to schooling. Though the Taliban tried to silence her, her voice has only grown louder and her message more influential. Malala proves that one person, no matter how young, can change the world.
Conclusion
You’ve got this, girlfriend. With hard work, passion, and a little inspiration from these amazing women, you can achieve your biggest dreams and inspire other women along the way. We all face challenges, but you are strong and capable of overcoming anything that comes your way. Believe in yourself and the power you have to make a difference. Now go out there and show the world what you’re made of! The future is female, and you’re helping lead the way.