In a world where the drive for success knows no bounds, ambitious women stand out. They are the go-getters, negotiating deals, being featured in Forbes’s lists, and leading fearlessly. What makes these ambitious women succeed, how do they get to the top, and what stops other women from following the same path?

Today, we will redefine ambition and help you find yours. We’ll also provide practical advice on how to become unstoppable, show some real-life examples of ambitious women, and recommend some must-read books to fuel your ambition.

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What is an Ambitious Woman?

According to Hippo, Ambitious means having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.

Ambitious women are committed, determined, and show purpose. Ambition is complex because, for many women, it is tied to many different goals. It could mean starting a company, achieving a managerial position, or being financially free at all costs.

Ambitious women have a few things in common. They can think big and have the boldness to pursue their goals relentlessly.

Get Inspired: 30 Ambitious Women Quotes From Inspiring Women to Ignite Your Ambition

What are the Top Characteristics of Ambitious Women

So how do women overcome these ever-present challenges to succeed in male-dominated industries and become female entrepreneurs? Here are some top characteristics you need to develop to fall into the ranks of ambitious women and be unstoppable.

These are the top skills and mindsets that ambitious women share, and they confront some of the top challenges for female entrepreneurs head-on.

1. Confidence

Confidence is the foundation for thinking big and going after big, audacious goals. A strong belief in yourself and your abilities is fundamental for any female entrepreneur or businesswoman. Overconfidence is the biggest physiological predictor of whether or not you will be an entrepreneur.

Luckily confidence is a skill and, like any skill, it can be practiced and developed.

Here are some confidence-building exercises for women:

Try Power Poses for Women
Prepare to Feel More Confident
Use Powerful Affirmations
Dress for Success
Celebrate your Wins

Recommended Reading: 15 Effective Confidence-building Exercises for Women

2. Visionary Skills

Ambitious women know where they want to go or have a sense of direction and purpose. They are forward-thinking and can see the big picture, which allows them to set long-term goals and create detailed plans to reach them.

3. Resilience

Every female entrepreneur and businesswoman speaks about resilience. It is the hallmark of any successful business, the ability to rise above challenges. Especially for women who are met with stereotypes, unfair assumptions, and judgments. Staying true to your cause, goal, or purpose will guarantee success in the long run – keep going.

4. A Growth Mindset

A growth mindset can help women let go of perfectionism and focus on improvement and progress instead. A growth mindset can help women receive feedback, promote better problem-solving skills, and increase resilience.

5. Flexibility

Lastly, ambitious women can change and adapt to meet new or changing demands. They understand that business is unpredictable, which requires flexibility, adaptability, and the courage to change direction when needed. Flexibility also means stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, and rising above fear.

Need more inspiration? Here are 12 Brilliant Books for Ambitious Women

How to Tap Into Your Ambition

Here is a step-by-step process on how to reach your wildest dreams and become unstoppable while using some of the top skills and traits of ambitious women.

1. Define Your Own Definition of Success

Everyone’s definition of success is different so define yours, elaborate on it, and write it down.

In a Q&A with bold businesswomen, Loes Daniels says, “ I define success as creating something bigger than myself. It’s about building a company with a strong team and a lasting legacy. Success also encompasses meeting my personal goals.”

Use your visionary skills to define your definition of success, and understand both your personal and professional goals as they can complement and even fuel one another.

2. Think Big

Ambitious women have big, bold dreams. From day one, visualize success to bring your wildest dreams to fruition. Think about what a global company looks like, what financial freedom looks like, or what being an esteemed female leader feels like.

Thinking big requires confidence, a top characteristic for ambitious women.

3. Set Goals

Set a goal that is aligned with your big thinking, and translate your goal into actionable steps, to keep you focused. Use a goal-setting framework and measure and track your goals so that you can relentlessly pursue them.

Goal-setting requires a vision and is focused on growth.

4. Get Gritty

Grit and determination will carry you through harder moments and challenges. As a female entrepreneur or businesswoman, you need to be able to keep going in the face of discrimination, stereotyping, and imposter syndrome. Achievement is not only down to talent, but also passion and perseverance.

A growth mindset and adaptability can help you foster resilience.

5. Find Your Tribe

Ambitious women cannot achieve success on their own. They need support, care, and encouragement. Finding a female mentor who has faced similar challenges can help you through your own hurdles. Finding a partner at home willing to share responsibilities with you is also important – someone who can share the load.

Monthly inspiration and empowering content can also help you on your path to success.

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6. Revisit and Redefine

Lastly, your ambitions are not set in stone. You can redefine them as you progress in your career or as your business evolves.

Be flexible in your ambitions, and uncompromising about your dedication to them.

Recommended Reading: How to Succeed as a Women in a Male-dominated Industry

Go Get ‘Em

By being aware of the challenges that ambitious women face, understanding the skills that ambitious women share, and with a step-by-step plan to reach your goals, you can exceed your greatest expectations and live the life you dream about. And if you still feel unconvinced, pick up one of the best books for ambitious women to grow your mindset and develop crucial skills.

This quote from an ambitious woman, Sheryl Sanberg, sums it up; “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

What to read next? 10 Top-rated Self Improvement Books for Women in 2024