Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
In a rich conversation full of practical insights, former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard and former Finance Minister of Nigeria Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reflect on their experiences as women leaders in positions of global power — and share six standout lessons on what it takes to lead and build solidarity in the face of gender bias and stereotypes.
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.
Follow TED on Twitter:
Like TED on Facebook:
Subscribe to our channel:
TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy ( ). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
Go for it…Dont take a backward step…. reach out….believe in you…do it… make a space for others… leave a legacy!
4:05 sure. Thats why you were elected PM…
She was never elected. She stabbed the prime minister in the back and took over until she could be voted out. She is actually a very awful person.
@Nadia 168 this is inaccurate. Initially she became PM after the leadership spill of Rudd, but was elected as PM in August 2010 after securing enough independents to form a minority government. She was then challenged by Rudd in 2012 who took over as PM again with the stipulation that the loser leave the parliament. Subsequently Abbott won the 2013 for the Liberal party, accredited largely to leadership instability in the Labor party, but also faced a leadership spill from Turnbull and generally making the first half of the decade a revolving door of PMs.
@Nadia 168 I don’t think what happened could be called a backstab, she was nominated from within the Labor Party. Kevin Rudd coming back could be described as an actual backstab though.
@Pandaboi she’s the one who orchestrated the whole vote. How can’t you call that a back stab? She didn’t even accomplish anything other than ruining the reputation of the Labor party and the Australian government…
@Pandaboi she was subsequently elected by the population shortly after the coup.
You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.
Convince yourself that you have the power to be all what you wish to be. It is YOU who could generate in you a huge power of motivation to push you forward and ignite you to think and to do.
Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.
Most of all: As a leader do not hurriedly discount any criticism as sexist to protect your self esteem. Or as racist. Or as [fill in any other convenient apology for your own potential failures]. Look at your own shortcomings first, before you make allegations. Stop victimizing yourself. Stay objective.
I’ve seen many male leaders get away with crazy stupid excuses. We should hold all our leaders to a higher standard, but we shouldn’t start with women and racial minorities, and especially not attribute those failings to their gender or race.
Also women be less agreeable, challenge more and be more confrontational. If you pick up sexism call it out straight away, be specific with feedback and make sure you have witnesses.
@mars girl she made it to about 0:17 before the talk turned to her genitalia.
Maybe if you were more concerned with being Prime Minister than being _The First Female_ and _assuming_ everyone is sexist, before doubling down on _everyone else_ being _even more sexist,_ then they _would_ treat you like every other Prime Minister instead of _Following Your Lead._
That’s what leaders do.
@john doe gender is important and is very much a part of people’s identity. As soon as a woman wants to be in power now you want us to not make gender an issue? For crying our loud gender is an issue and it is a long way off from being an even playing field. We are still in the infancy of real equality.
Virtue Signal!!
Isn’t there place in society for that, if we remove the people without any from attention?
There seems to be an inverse correlation between free will for all and leadership since leaders take control of many other peoples’ lives and their environment.
So much for being a leader. Wasn’t Julia charged with treason by Brian Shaw?
The great thing about today’s internet age is the fact that _anyone_ can create their own company and let the results speak for themselves.
Facebook. Apple. Amazon. Netflix. Google. PayPal. Uber. Twitter. Reddit. Etc etc etc
Criticism against females does not = sexism
Go for it!
The hipocrisy is hilarious
Julia Gillard’s introduction of the carbon tax at a much higher rate than overseas made her very unpopular. And that is honestly what she is remembered for, in part. After promising not to introduce a carbon tax in her campaign, she f*cked over the Australian public and broke that promise.
Couldn’t pick worse female leaders if you tried
Every woman who steps forward make small space for the women who come next.
So artificial