Belinda Johnson Quotes

My mother taught me early on not to be afraid to put myself out there - especially as a woman.

I will not allow my experience to scare off other young women or girls from running for office. For the sake of all of us we cannot let that happen.

Action can cure fear and hesitation and doubt.

Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in ways that might initially scare you. That can be being an architect of change.

My late mother was very clear to my sister and I that we were to be strong women; that we were to be effective; that we were to be heard.

I like to think I'm a role model for women. But I also don't like to just limit it to women. I like to think I'm a role model for human beings in general.

I really want women to throw their shoulders back and stand up straight and use their big girl voices and not feel like they're compromising their femininity to be strong and smart.

Have the courage to act instead of react.

I took a gamble to exercise leadership without losing my feminine nature.

I've been very much intrigued by and impressed with women. But I've never been intimidated. Even if I make a fool of myself, it's better to have tried.

I think my lesson is to back yourself once you've been given a job. Far too often, I've been given a job and then doubted why I'm there.

Often we women are risk averse. I needed the push. Now, more than ever, young women need more seasoned women to provide that encouragement, to take a risk, to go for it. Once a glass ceiling is broken, it stays broken.

Guys need to know when to take charge.

I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.

As a young woman, I was fortunate to have the leadership of Jeanette Hayner, the courage of Jennifer Dunn, the faith of Elisabeth Elliot, and the indomitable spirit of Margaret Thatcher to guide and motivate me.

One thing I would tell women is that they must take up the challenge. Very often, we anticipate a lot of problems, and therefore, we don't take the lead. And I think that we are shortchanging ourselves if we don't do that.

I feel special when I'm told girls look up to me.

I would love to see every woman feel that she knows who she is and how she wants to lead. Every part of me is passionate about having the ability to do what I never could do when I was young.

Don't be afraid girls. Power's awesome!

I really saw my mom advocate on my behalf and really say, 'Hey, you're good enough.' It was from her that I learned that just because something hasn't been done before, it doesn't mean it can't be done now. You have to speak up, and you've got to assert yourself because it takes somebody to be the first one to make it happen.

My mother did not raise me to ask for permission to lead.

If I can give that back to one little girl, much less thousands, and if they start on this journey because they saw me do this, then I did a good thing with my career and my life.

It's an honor to be the voice for girls who are not scared and who want to have someone to connect with.

Wonder Woman is very much her own character. She thinks big.

I want to be remembered as a Miss Universe who overcame her fears and helped other women overcome theirs.