These boss lady quotes will help you define your own worth.

You might have heard someone referred to as a “Boss Lady” or “Boss Babe” before. What does the term mean, though? Well, in its most literal sense, it is a female boss or supervisor. However, mostly when someone earns the title of “Boss Lady” or “Boss Babe.” it is because they exhibit a fearless ability to create their life.

That life might look different, whether you are a successful professional, an innovative entrepreneur, or the mom who runs an entire household while making it look effortless! These “Boss Lady” quotes come from some women who command a presence like Queen Bae herself, or the former first lady. I think they would agree that being called a boss lady is a compliment, but they might just prefer you call them a straight-up boss!

Keep reading these “Boss Lady” quotes for some excellent advice on leadership, empowering women, and even “how to” be a “Boss Lady!”

Don’t forget to also check out these alpha female quotes for all the strong women out here

Badass boss lady quotes from successful women

1. “Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass.” — Shonda Rhimes

2. “I never dreamed about success, I worked for it.” — Estée Lauder

3. “When they go low, we go high.” — Michelle Obama

4. “Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams.” — Lady Gaga

5. “Power is not given to you. You have to take it.” — Beyoncé

6. “Well-behaved women rarely make history.” — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

7. “Women have always been the strong ones of the world.” — Coco Chanel

8. “If there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” — Beyoncé

9. “I keep waiting to meet a man who has more balls than I do.” — Salma Hayek

10. “People think at the end of the day that a man is the only answer to fulfillment. Actually, a job is better for me.” — Princess Diana

11. “I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” — Madonna

12. “Sometimes you gotta be a beauty and a beast.” — Nicki Minaj

Classy boss lady quotes about leadership

13. “Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.” — Indra Nooyi

14. “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” — Sheryl Sandberg

15. “Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” — Marian Anderson

16. “Leadership is a series of behaviors rather than a role for heroes.” — Margaret Wheatley

17. “Women are leaders everywhere you look, from a CEO to a housewife that holds together a home. Our country was built by women who stand alone.” — Denise Clark

18. “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

19. “I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind leading.” — Amy Poehler

20. “Some leaders are born women.” — Geraldine Ferraro

21. “The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it.” — Elaine Agather

More boss woman quotes about leadership

22. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” — Mother Teresa

23. “True leaders understand that leadership is not about them, but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up.” — Sheri L. Dew

24. “The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.” — Faye Wattleton

25. “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” — Rosalynn Carter

26. “A noble leader answers not to the trumpet calls of self-promotion, but to the hushed whispers of necessity.” — Mollie Marti

27. “Leadership should be more participative than directive, more enabling than performing.” — Mary D. Poole

28. “Ninety percent of leadership is the ability to communicate something people want.” — Dianne Feinstein

Boss lady quotes that will inspire you

29. “You don’t get what you don’t ask for.” — Sophia Amoruso

30. “I stay true to myself and my style, and I am always pushing myself to be aware of that and be original.” — Aaliyah

31. “You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” — The Wizard of Oz

32. “You were born to create and contribute.” — Marie Forleo

33. “Often we don’t even realize who we’re meant to be because we’re so busy trying to live out someone else’s ideas. But other people and their opinions hold no power in defining our destiny.” — Oprah Winfrey

34. “Little girls with dreams become women with vision.” — Unknown

35. “Rooting for other people’s failure does get in the way of your success.” — Amy Poehler

36. “A strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everyone else.” — Unknown

37. “Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

38. “My best successes came on the heels of failure.” — Barbara Corcoran

Motivational girl boss quotes

39. “Don’t cut off your career branches too early. Don’t step away from your career based on what ‘might’ happen.” — Mary Barra

40. “As women, we must stand up for ourselves. We must stand up for each other. We must stand up for justice for all.” — Michelle Obama

41. “Don’t waste your energy trying to change opinions… Do your thing and don’t care if they like it.” — Tina Fey

42. “The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act.” — Barbara Sher

43. “Take criticism seriously, but not personally.” — Hillary Clinton

44. “Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.” — Bella Abzug

More Boss Lady quotes and sayings

45. “We need to understand that there is no formula for how women should lead their lives. That is why we must respect the choices that each woman makes for herself and her family. Every woman deserves the chance to realize her God-given potential.” — Hillary Clinton

46. “I talk a lot about taking risks, and then I follow that up very quickly by saying, ‘Take prudent risks.’” — Irene Rosenfeld

47. “I don’t follow trends or try to compete with anyone. Everything I do stems from following my passion and my love for design.” — Guo Pei

48. “Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.” — Margaret Thatcher

49. “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” — J. K. Rowling

50. “Instead of looking for all of the reasons it won’t work—start counting all the reasons it will.” — Reese Evans

Short Boss Lady Quotes

51. “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss.” — Beyoncé

52. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” — Milton Berle

53. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” — Steve Martin

54. “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” ― Coco Chanel

55. “She overcame everything that was meant to destroy her.” ― Sylvester McNutt III

56. “I’m gracing you with my presence.” — Kourtney Kardashian

57. “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” – Woody Allen

58. “It is within everyone’s grasp to be a CEO.” — Martha Stewart

59. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

60. “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” — Muhammad Ali

Boss Lady Quotes To Inspire Passion

61. “We need to get women to the point where they aren’t apologizing. It’s time to take ownership in our success.” – Tory Burch

62. “The only way to support a revolution is to make your own.” ― Sophia Amoruso

63. “Compete with yourself, not with others.” ― Sophia Amoruso

64. “She gets what she wants because she works for it.” ― Sophia Amoruso

65. “Keep your heels, head, and standards high.” ― Coco Chanel

66. “I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint.” ― Oprah Winfrey

67. “I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay.” — Beyoncé

68. “I was the brave little girl who dared to believe I could change the world. And I am.” ―  Christina J. Daniels

69. “If you are always trying to be normal, you’ll never know how amazing you can be.” ― Maya Angelou

70. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” ―  Oprah Winfrey

Boss Lady Quotes That Will Make You Stay Focused

71. “If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” — Michele Ruiz

72. “When you learn how much you’re worth, you’ll stop giving people discounts.” — Karen Salmansohn

73. “The thing women have yet to learn is that nobody gives you power. You just take it.” — Roseanne Barr

74. “Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility.” — Michelle Obama

75. “Smile and Slay. You have to slay it in life or life will slay you.” — Janna Cachola

76. “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.” — Maya Angelou

77. “Stay on your game and keep going for your dreams. The World needs that special gift that only you have.” — Marie Forleo

78. “Even if your dream seems unattainable, you can achieve it if you stay focused, driven, and diligent.” — Rebecca Minkoff

79. “There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.” — Brené Brown

80. “A woman with vision is unstoppable, a woman who is always increasing her skills multiplies. Along with passion, this woman is undeniable.” — Janna Cachola

What did you learn from these boss lady quotes?

So what should you do, if you want to become a boss? Start with some self-love and care. Each of the women quoted here has healthy self-esteem; probably forged by kicking ass in heels! Don’t let anyone else’s opinion of you hold you back. You define your own worth!

Of course, it doesn’t come easy, and there will struggles and failures along the way. Dust yourself off, straighten that crown on your head and keep going! Find a tribe of women that will support your ‘crazy’ ideas, motivate you to keep going, and hand you a tissue when your mascara is running.

Do you have women in your life who are total “Boss Ladies?” (I think we all are Boss Ladies, by the way!) It’s difficult to juggle all the things life throws at us women, and yet we stay strong.

Leave a shout out to your favorite ‘Boss Lady’ in the comment section below. Don’t forget to also mention any other favorite boss lady quotes and sayings.