All women, everywhere, have the same hopes: we want to be self-sufficient and create better lives for ourselves and our loved ones.

All women, everywhere, have the same hopes: we want to be self-sufficient and create better lives for ourselves and our loved ones.

Melinda Gates

What great changes have not been ambitious?

What great changes have not been ambitious?

Sometimes it's the people you can't help who inspire you the most.

Sometimes it's the people you can't help who inspire you the most.

You are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.

You are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.

We have to be careful in how we use this light shined on us.

We have to be careful in how we use this light shined on us.

Women and girls should be able to determine their own future, no matter where they're born.

Women and girls should be able to determine their own future, no matter where they're born.

Deep human connection is ... the purpose and the result of a meaningful life - and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity.

Deep human connection is ... the purpose and the result of a meaningful life - and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity.

If we don't empower women, we don't allow them to unlock the potential of themselves and their children.

If we don't empower women, we don't allow them to unlock the potential of themselves and their children.

When we invest in women, we invest in a powerful source of global development

When we invest in women, we invest in a powerful source of global development

Make sure you continue to trust what you know now about yourself and stay true to what you believe in

Make sure you continue to trust what you know now about yourself and stay true to what you believe in

Women speaking up for themselves and for those around them is the strongest force we have to change the world.

Women speaking up for themselves and for those around them is the strongest force we have to change the world.

Connect deeply with others. Our humanity is the one thing that we all have in common.

Connect deeply with others. Our humanity is the one thing that we all have in common.

A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.

A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.

Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.

Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.

When we invest in women and girls, we are investing in the people who invest in everyone else.

When we invest in women and girls, we are investing in the people who invest in everyone else.

It's the mark of a backward society — or a society moving backward — when decisions are made for women by men.

It's the mark of a backward society — or a society moving backward — when decisions are made for women by men.

We have to open up to others. We have to give up the need to be separate and superior.

We have to open up to others. We have to give up the need to be separate and superior.

Great wealth can be very confusing. It can inflate and distort your sense of self — especially if you believe money means merit.

Great wealth can be very confusing. It can inflate and distort your sense of self — especially if you believe money means merit.

Living is the natural desire of everyone, which I do not want to hide, but I do not want to live even on the condition of imprisonment.

Living is the natural desire of everyone, which I do not want to hide, but I do not want to live even on the condition of imprisonment.