This article was originally published in celebration of International Women's day in 2020 and has since been updated.

#EachforEqual we are totally on board! A more gender equal world is what we are here to help promote. We want to show the world that when women do well, their families do well and our communities and economy prosper. 

At Mums & Co we want to see a future where women shouldn’t have to choose between their family and their career ambitions. We believe that together we are stronger and that as a community, collectively we can bring about change.

We feed off curiosity, courage entrepreneurialism, creativity, positivity, integrity and fun. So we’ve searched the corners of the internet on a hunt for some quotes from women from all walks of life to help inspire you in the lead up to IWD 2020.

Quotes by inspirational women

1. " You can carve your own path, be your own kind of leader. We do need to create a new generation of leadership." Jacinda Ardern
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2. " Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." Maya Angelou
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3. " When you have a dream you have to work hard to achieve that dream. Your dreams when you are young can be the force that keeps you going." Evonne Goolagong Cawley
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4. "There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind." Virginia Woolf
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5. " Disappointment and adversity can be catalysts for greatness. There’s something particularly exciting about being the hunter, as opposed to the hunted. And that can make for powerful energy."  Cathy Freeman
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6. " Teach her that the idea of 'gender roles' is absolute nonsense. Do not ever tell her that she should or should not do something because she is a girl. 'Because you are a girl' is never a reason for anything. Ever." Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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7. "If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough."  Oprah Winfrey
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8. "Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them." Unknown
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9. "I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not." Julia Gillard
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10. "A woman is like a tea bag — you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."  Eleanor Roosevelt
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11. "Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you." Hillary Clinton
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12. "It is better to do what you love for work, but if it is your day job that enables an unpaid passion, then your life is still sweeter. What is important is that you make time for your dreams, not whether or not you get paid for it." Tara Moss
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13. "We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained." Marie Curie
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14. "We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave – to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential."  Malala Yousafzai
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15. "Yes, you can have it all, but not all at the same time. Set your own priorities, trust your gut and follow your heart." Quentin Bryce
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16. "We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success." Arianna Huffington
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17. "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. … It shouldn't be that women are the exception." Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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18. "In life, you may face hard times. But in the face of adversity, always seek to remain positive. What we think will eventually become our life. And if we think positive, you will have a positive life." Sarah Wilson
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19. "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."  Jane Goodall
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20. "Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen." Brené Brown
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21. "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." Michelle Obama
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22. "Power is not given to you. You have to take it." Beyoncé Knowles
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23. "Loyalty, kindness and compassion are very important in friendship and business partnerships." Jennifer Hawkins
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24. "I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse." Florence Nightingale
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25. "I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others." Amelia Earhart
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26. "You must stand as guard at the door of your own mind and choose to be positive." Gail Kelly
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27. "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it."  Estée Lauder
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28. "Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be." Elizabeth Gilbert
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29. "It’s okay to have fun in business." Naomi Simson
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30. "I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done."  Lucille Ball
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31. "We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."  Sheryl Sandberg
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32. "My life is my own and I will live it fearlessly and daringly." Lisa Messenger
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33. "I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." Audrey Hepburn
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34. "Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."  J.K. Rowling
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35. "If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader." Dolly Parton
36. "Some ideas, like what you’re going to do with your life, take time to form." Cate Blanchette
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37. "Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it." Harper Lee
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38. "The only limitations are the ones we put on ourselves." Ita Buttrose
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39. "You could make a case that, along with the technological revolution, the most provocative upending destabilizing thrilling change in the course of human history is that we’re finally in it. … We're here now, women are in the world, and we will not be bullied." Meryl Streep
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40. "There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say ‘watch me’." Layne Beachley
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41. "What if young women around the world were encouraged to be more, rather than less? What if the focus shifted from how we appear to the possibilities of what we can do?" Jade Hameister
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42. "Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out."  Anita Roddick
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43. "This journey that I’ve been on has shown me that it doesn’t matter how big your muscles are – you need to have a big heart and you need to have a strong attitude and mindset." Turia Pitt
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44. "I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values – and follow my own moral compass – then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own." Michelle Obama
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45. "You don’t have to be someone special to achieve something amazing. You’ve just got to have a dream, believe in it and work hard." Jessica Watson
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46. "We must get to work on creating a safe and equal society for all women and children." Natasha Stott Despoja
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47. "When you find your passion, that is the pathway to the job of your dreams." Lisa Wilkinson
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48. "I did not have the most experience in the industry or the most money, but I cared the most."  Sara Blakely
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49. "Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live." Anne Sweeney
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50. "I tell my daughters to have their voice in this world, and it became clear I needed to role-model that." Melinda Gates

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Recommended Reading: How Women In Business Are Innovating During A Crisis ‍

Recommended Reading: Sharing the load at home
Recommended Reading: The Australian Mums In Business Report

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