Top Ten Inspirational Women
As the end of Women’s History Month is approaching, I thought I would share with you the Top Ten Inspirational Women who have shaped my life.
10) Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time favorite books, and it has inspired me in different ways since high school. Upon the first read, I was moved by the love story, Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett’s love was not an overnight development, instead it was messy and complicated and hard won which made it more realistic. When I read the book as an adult, I was moved by the strength of Elizabeth to not be swayed by who society said she should love, but the man that appeals to her. She was determined to not “settle” when it came to marriage, which was a controversial choice when this was written 200 years ago, and remains so today.
9) Chelsea Handler
I first discovered Chelsea in 2008 when I read her book, Are You There Vodka, It’s Me, Chelsea? and from that point on, I was a fan of hers. What I love most about Chelsea is that she speaks her mind and is not afraid of the consequences. She leads an unabashedly “non-traditional” lifestyle and does not apologize for it. Whether or not you like her views or what she is talking about, you have to admire the strength of character to live in the public eye in such an honest manner.
8) Cyndi Lauper
I was six when I first watched the video for Girls Just Want to Have Fun on MTV, and I was an instant fan. When I was old enough to buy Cyndi's tape, I purchased She’s So Unusual, and listened to Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Time After Time, She Bop and All Through the Night until the tape barely played anymore. One of my hubby’s favorite stories was explaining to me what She Bop was really about when I was 25. I had no clue, and it makes me laugh to think about 10 year old me singing it thinking it was about a girl who likes to dance. Cyndi recently wrote the music for the Broadway show Kinky Boots and she became the first woman to win a Tony solo for Best Original Score, proving that she just gets better with age. I love her music so much; I have actually dedicated two Music Mondays to it.
7) Sally Ride
In second grade, the first biography I ever had to research and write was about Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. It is amazing to think now that her first space mission took place when she was only 32, and she remains the youngest American astronaut to travel to space. 30 years after her landmark mission, it is sad for me to still see that science and especially physics are still heavily populated by men. My hubby is a high school physics teacher who encourages young women to pursue this career choice. When I first found out I was pregnant, I thought I was having a girl and I had dreams of her becoming the next Sally Ride. I still have that dream for other little girls out there.
6) Sandra Day O’Connor
Well, first of all, I love that fact that there was a period of time that Sandra Day O’Connor was a blonde. :-) Beside her hair color, what I love most is that despite the fact that she was nominated to the Supreme Court by a Republican president; she did not let politics impact her voting record. In fact, I imagine as the only woman Supreme Court Justice for ten years, until Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she faced many challenges when speaking her mind and voicing decent where she felt necessary. It takes a truly strong person, especially a woman, to voice an opinion on such a large platform.
5) Sue Wagner
I know that the media wants me to make Sheryl Sandberg my inspirational woman business leader, but I just think it is because they are not creative or informed enough about women business leaders. My choice in this category is Sue Wagner. In 1988, Sue left a successful and burgeoning career at Lehman Brothers with 7 other people to found a unique asset management business focused on risk management and fixed income. Larry Fink and Robert Kapito were in the spotlight as the head of the organization which eventually became Blackrock; however, the eight founding partners literally shared an office with one couch and one phone when they started. Sue played a key role in a number of the acquisitions that led to the growth of the firm, making it one of the most influential financial services company that it is today. Having worked for a firm that worked closely with Blackrock, I would hear about Sue from her colleagues all the time, and every single one spoke nothing but praise about her. But I think what I find most impressive about Sue was that despite the fact that she helped build and grow one of the world’s most powerful financial firms, she did this while also becoming a wife and a mom to amazingly well-adjusted, intelligent and thoughtful children. If you don’t know her, here is a great article from Reuters about her.
4) Mother Teresa
For those of you who don’t know, I attended an all girl’s Catholic high school, so I have a strong background in faith and religion. And while in school, being taught by nuns, it was impossible to not hear, read about or get inspired by the “rock star” of nuns, Mother Teresa. Her Missionaries of Charity started with twelve people and grew to thousands and their sole focus was to help the “poorest of the poor.” Her charitable heart and inspiration to those around her always made me feel “inadequate” in my charities. She is a wonderful reminder of the great work we can achieve when we put other’s needs before our own.
3) Oprah Winfrey
I know it may seem cliché to add Oprah to this list, but I add her because I truly became a fan of hers during the final season of her show. I recorded Oprah’s after the show program on OWN and frequently found myself more interested in the behind the scenes aspect of her show more than the actual show. The behind the scenes show truly highlighted the legacy that Oprah had created with hundreds of employees who were focused on creating high quality work, but with humanity and grace. It was during one of Oprah’s last shows that she challenged everyone to dream big and go after that dream. At the time, I did not know what my big dream was, but I remember feeling motivated by her words. And then over a year ago, I realized the big dream that I had, and her words immediately came to me and inspired me to take the big leap.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE5GPc2WeZY
2) Gayle King
For those of you who don’t know, Gayle King probably is best known as “Oprah’s best friend,” so why should I put her higher than Oprah? Because she and Oprah became friends in their early 20s while they were both pursuing careers in television journalism. And clearly her friend Oprah’s career took off before Gayle’s. As I think some of us women have seen, there are friends who would harbor extreme jealousy over the success of one of their friends. Gayle, was the exact opposite. She was Oprah’s biggest cheerleader and strongest supporter. I argue that Oprah would not be “Oprah” if it weren’t for Gayle. A strong woman leader needs an even stronger friend to help her on that path, and clearly Gayle was that friend and she is the friend that I hope that I can be for my friends.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7ez7J2_oyU
1) My Mom
This was the easiest choice and the first person who comes to my mind when I think of inspirational women. My mom grew up as the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister whose mission in life was to integrate and grow the church in New York. As such, they lived in a very dangerous part of the city where my mom’s home was frequently vandalized and broken into. My mom was a minority in her high school, and was selected for the cheerleading squad because they had to take a white person on the team. Her only role was to be the top of the pyramid because she was skinny. She married my dad and had two children and was divorced by the time she was 24. But it was the birth of her first child, my brother, who inspired her to make something more of her life. So she went to nursing school while also waiting tables at Denny’s and then having me. She later remarried and had three other children. With such a large family, my mom worked three jobs while I was in middle school and high school. Despite all of this, she frequently told me that she worked hard so that I would have a better life than she did. She made sure I went to dance classes, that I attended a good high school and I dreamed big for college. My mother made me believe that I could do anything in life, but even if I failed, it didn’t change her love for me. When I told her I was starting a company, she was the first person to support me, and despite the fact that she does not have much money, she has constantly offered to support the company should I need it. I am the strong, hard working, confident, woman I am today because of my mom.
What women have inspired you in your life?