Valerie Jarrett Quotes

I never thought I was breaking a glass ceiling. I just had to do what I had to do, and it never occurred to me not to.

Basically, all my life I'd been told you can't do that because you're female. So I guess I just didn't pay any attention. I just went ahead and did what I could and then, when the stars aligned, I was ready.

We had so many obstacles. We had a lot of sexism and misogyny, there's a lot of things that were against us. But we've just pushed forward and we showed everybody.

I've broken through many walls and glass ceilings.

Someone's got to break the glass ceiling, and once it's broken, everybody else comes clamouring up behind.

Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.

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.

Obviously, I'm still building a name and reputation for myself. The stigmas that come with my past will remain there for quite some time, but I'm not afraid to challenge those things, and I never have been.

In our society, the women who break down barriers are those who ignore limits.

I certainly came up in an era where women were really making strides and making a point to beat down doors and find their place and crash through the glass ceiling.

A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done.

I look at someone like Kathryn Bigelow, and I have so much admiration. She's playing in the boy's sandpit, and winning.

When I was at school, most people were planning on going to university and becoming doctors or lawyers. I wanted to be a singer, and I was laughed at. It was tough, but I never let anything stop me.

During my career several people have tried to push me out the door... Nobody has succeeded yet.

My mother wanted to be a teacher when she was young, and my father didn't approve of it, so she fought very hard to become one. And she did it. So when I said I wanted to become an actress, my mother was very supportive. She always said to me, 'There's no such thing as 'can't.'

Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.

I think, as a woman in action in the business, you would be stupid not to express interest. Any female action role that presents itself as an opportunity I would throw myself at!

Growing up, I was told I could be anything I wanted to be. There were no limitations restraining me just because I was a girl. Then I joined the military.

As a CEO, I want to show women that there are no limits to what they can achieve, whether through entrepreneurship, government, science or any path they choose, and there is plenty of room for women at the top.

There had never really been a female that was breaking down a swing. So when I'd walk into a clubhouse, I'd have to explain a little bit of who I was.

I feel like I've been proving people wrong all my life.

The people I'm drawn to are sort of self-created. They came from backgrounds where not much was expected of them, necessarily.

I think it's important to inspire other people to try and do things that people discourage you to do.

I started racing BMX when I was five years old. I followed in my brother's footsteps, and I was a little tomboy. When I came into the sport, there wasn't many women. I raced with the boys; I looked up to the boys, and all my mentors were boys.

I know exactly what that's all about being in a male dominated sport. Sometimes it just takes one person to step out, to be a pioneer, a trailblazer, really.