When I became finance minister, they called me Okonjo-Wahala - or 'Trouble Woman.' It means 'I give you hell.' But I don't care what names they call me. I'm a fighter; I'm very focused on what I'm doing, and relentless in what I want to achieve, almost to a fault. If you get in my way, you get kicked.
Interpretation
This quote reflects resilience and determination in the face of adversity and criticism.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasizes her strength and focus as a finance minister, illustrating how she embraces the challenges and negative labels thrown at her. Her self-identification as a 'fighter' demonstrates a robust commitment to her goals, showcasing the importance of resilience in achieving success, regardless of obstacles or societal labels.
In practice
This quote can inspire someone facing criticism in their career to remain focused on their path.
I'm trying to tell you that there's a new wave on the continent. A new wave of openness and democratization in which, since 2000, more than two-thirds of African countries have had multi-party democratic elections. Not all of them have been perfect, or will be, but the trend is very clear.
The best way to help Africans today is to help them to stand on their own feet. And the best way to do that is by helping create jobs.
When you save the life of anyone, a farmer, a teacher, a mother, they are contributing productively into the economy.
Investing in women is smart economics, and investing in girls, catching them upstream, is even smarter economics.
I felt Nigeria didn't have to succumb to the image of being a corrupt country; we didn't have to let the economy stagnate.
I know what it means to go to the stream to fetch water... what it means when people are poor and don't have enough to eat. It's not enough to say you know about poverty. You have to live it.
He who is silent and bows his head dies every time he does so. He who speaks aloud and walks with his head held high dies only once.
I was raised to believe that soldiers were strong and wise and brave and faithful; they didn't lie, cheat, steal or abandon their comrades.
If I cannot air this pain and alter it, I will surely die of it. That's the beginning of social protest.
Courage is not the absence of fear — it s inspiring others to move beyond it.
I knew being accepted was going to be hard, but I knew I was involved in a situation that was going to bring opportunities to other blacks.
Let no one ever shy away from the claim that Jews have power, that Jews have influence. We have learned the terrible lesson of history; that unless we have influence and power, disproportionate to our small numbers - immoral results will occur. We need power. And we must continue to use our power. Power which we earned, power which no one gave us on a silver platter, power which we worked hard for - use that power in the interests of justice.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.