"Dream with ambition. Lead with conviction." - Why Kamala Harris' win is a win for all women

Kamala Devi Harris is now Vice President-elect of the United States. Just pause and re-read that sentence again. As a woman, it fills me with optimism, confidence and pride. Kamala Harris will be breaking barriers on so many levels with this role - the first woman in the job, the first Black woman in the role, the first Indian-American as well as the first daughter of immigrants. All this, on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving some women the right to vote.

As I watched her victory speech, I realized why her win is a win for all women. She is a role model who has made it to the second-highest office in the US and in the running to become the President someday in the future.

In a world where women are still fighting for pay equality; flexible work conditions and the struggle between motherhood and having a career, Harris' election to office is a quantum leap forward.

When everyone except women gets to make decisions and pass laws about women's bodies and lives, property rights, marital rights, careers and more - it's definitely not in women's interest.

While Harris' election may not solve all racial and gender inequities like a fairytale, we all understand that she has become a powerful symbol of change and progress.

It's like all women around the world are watching Kamala Harris on the news and quietly saying in their heads - "If she can do it, so can I."

That is the confidence that we can't get otherwise in the world around us, which is constantly undermining, undercutting or ignoring women. Or telling them that a life and career of their dreams is not important or not possible.

'Hero-worship' - you hear the phrase and envision a man. Women have never been hero-worshipped - someone is always ready to tear them down. To find faults. To criticize their looks or personality or intelligence. To compare their family life with others. This is also why this election matters. We need more powerful role models, who don't necessarily have to be young, thin, rich, pretty, beautiful or nice and sweet. We need more women role models who have gumption, intelligence, opportunism, courage, business savvy and a 'Voice' of their own. We don't need perfection. We need champions.

That is why I am looking forward to what Kamala Harris' can do in office. How she can pave the way ahead for us. Loved these lines from her powerful speech -

".......But while I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message:

Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before. And we will applaud you every step of the way."

Watch the full speech here -

Here's to hope for a world where women can dream and do more.