Embracing Ambition

I have spent my life learning to embrace ambition, and am proud it has lead me to be the woman I am today. I am twenty-one years old and proud to be ambitious and support women with ambition. Growing up, I was a fly on the wall to my mother’s journey in navigating the corporate ladder as a woman. I witnessed the challenges of balancing work and family life, but also the beautiful, strong, intelligent role model who inspired me. I was twelve years old when I saw the strongest woman in my life be given the gift of life by a kidney transplant from her best friend, and I knew a career in medicine was the path for me. I specifically knew a career advancing the health and happiness of women would be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.

At the Embrace Ambition Series from the Tory Burch Foundation, I was inspired by the ambitious women embracing their ambition that I was surrounded by. I could not think of a better way to spend International Women’s Day. Hearing from bold women including Lilly Ledbetter, the activist behind the Ledbetter Equal Pay Act, Tory Burch who is an incredibly successful fashion designer and entrepreneur, and more left a lasting impact on me. Beyond the presentation, networking with like minded women also affirmed my belief in the power of bold, ambitious women. I met physicians, entrepreneurs, mothers, activists, and more all with one thing in common: ambition.

Women can have it all, which is exactly what they define “all” to be for them. I hope that in my future medical career I will be able to empower ambitious women to know that they can be successful in both their careers and motherhood. I refuse to settle for anything less for myself or my fellow women with ambition around me. I greatly admire the work the Tory Burch Foundation has done to empower women to be ambitious, and was honored to meet the women this organization impacts.