Words Of Wisdom

In need of a little advice? A new book shares wise words from women who’ve made waves in their own careers – and what gets them through the day.

What advice would you give to working women?

1 Know your worth and assert it. Women are still vilified for exercising the tenacity and assertiveness that men are applauded for in work situations, and that’s magnified in creative industries, where you see young women putting in huge emotional investments yet still feeling like they need to downplay their abilities. Which is bulls**t. You have to become your own biggest cheerleader, even if it makes you cringe at first.

Jo Fuertes-Knight, journalist

2 Apologise only when you’ve done something that actually requires apology. Don’t apologise for speaking your mind, or saying no, or claiming your space, or having ambition, or taking credit when it is your due.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writer

3 I do think it’s important to be unapologetic about what you do. I used to mumble aspects of my job – flagging up only the bits I thought sounded most mainstream – but now I try hard to give each thing I do the weight it deserves.

Pandora Sykes, journalist and stylist

4 Take up space – don’t be apologetic about your ideas and opinions. Men aren’t.

Linsey Young, curator at Tate Britain

5 The one thing you really need to know before starting a business is yourself. You need to know your limits, and how far you’re willing to go. You’re going to have to work really hard – do you have that in you? What are your strengths, and what can hold you back?

Serena Guen, founder and CEO of SUITCASE magazine