TED Talk with Shad Begum: How Women In Pakistan Are Creating Political Change

    The resource above is a TED Talk given by Shad Begum who is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Association for Behaviour & Knowledge Transformation (ABKT), an organization working toward the economic and political empowerment of communities in underserved areas of Pakistan. She is a nationally and internationally known women's rights activist and has wined the US Department of State's International Woman of Courage Award in 2012.

    In this video, Shad Begum shares her journey of becoming a political officer and her ideas of how she views the future of women leaders that could encourage women and girls to become leaders of their fields.

    Here are some quotes from the talk that I think are inspiring to women who are struggling in the workplace and seeking advice from influential women leaders.

“When women show up, they bring their realities and views with them. And yet, I have found all too often, women underestimate their own strength, their potential and their self-respect. However, while connecting with these women and girls, it became very clear to me that if there was to be any hope to create a better life for these women and girls and their families, we must stand up for our own rights -- and not wait for someone else to come and help us.”

“So our struggle is far from over. But this shift is historic. And a sign that women are standing up, showing up and making it absolutely clear that we all must invest in building women's leadership. In Pakistan and here in the United States, and everywhere in the world, this means women in politics, women in business and women in positions of power making important decisions.”

“It took me 23 years to get here. But I don't want any girl or any woman to take 23 years of her life to make herself heard. I have had some dark days. But I have spent every waking moment of my life working for the right of every woman to live her full potential.”