Whatever your ambition… embrace it.

The #EmbraceAmbition initiative focuses on encouraging women and girls to own their power, drive and dreams. While I’ve always been ambitious, I’ve personally battled self-doubt and, in the past, did not want to be called ambitious. Through the initiative, we hope to eliminate the double standard around ambition as we will never achieve equality if we are pretending to not be ambitious. 

In the two years since we began the #EmbraceAmbition movement, I’ve heard from countless women about the obstacles they’ve overcome to achieve their goals, both professionally and personally. The common thread is that women certainly don’t lack ambition but cultural norms and stereotypes impede their success.

We may think ambition in women is a good thing, but instinctually, because of a lifetime of cultural stereotypes, we (both men AND women) react negatively. That’s unconscious bias. Because of this bias, ambition in women is perceived as aggressive, pushy and unattractive.

To start challenging our own bias about ambition, remember that ambition is not a dirty word. Catch yourself or others if you hear the word used pejoratively or if you react negatively. Let’s use the word ambitious to proudly describe ourselves and each other. 

And let’s not judge our own or one another’s ambitions. Whether it is to be a business leader, stay at home mom, artist, athlete, or all of the above. Whatever a woman’s ambition is...it needs to be valued. 

And while you’re at it, shatter the other stereotypes of what women can and cannot do. The onus isn’t only on women – men need to be part of this movement as well because stereotypes negatively impact us all. 

Shatter the stereotypes of what women can and cannot do.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Tory Burch Foundation will host events across the country to amplify the voices of ambitious women and challenge unconscious bias. From March 4 - 8, you can watch all the Embrace Ambition Series events here. An important and effective way to challenge unconscious bias is to listen to each other’s stories. 

Tonight, we start the event series in my hometown of Philadelphia. I’ll be joined on stage by my inspiration and mother, Reva Robinson. We’ll share the evening with a young activist and 16-year old STEM advocate, Jacqueline Means who will talk with Glamour’s Editor-in-Chief Samantha Barry about what she’s doing to challenge stereotypes in her community of Wilmington, Delaware.  

Through the Embrace Ambition Series our ambition is to challenge double standards to help achieve women’s equality. What’s yours?

The Tory Burch Foundation advances women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship in the United States. Don’t forget to sign up for our free monthly newsletter. Follow the Tory Burch Foundation on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.