If there’s one thing I want to tell the women of the future, it’s this—never sell yourself short. Whatever it is that you believe in, go for it. There will be a hundred obstacles in your way, maybe more. But those hurdles do not define you. What defines you is the choice to push forward despite them.

Fearful of failure? It’s okay. I’d rather you try and fail than never try. Too often, we let external narratives dictate our paths. We hear voices—whether in the media, our social circles, or our own minds—telling us we can’t achieve something, that we won’t get the opportunity, that the door is closed. And so, we limit ourselves before even trying. That has to stop.

This is especially true for women. I’ve seen it repeatedly—second-guessing, hesitating, holding back. And I get it; society has conditioned us to be cautious and “realistic” to measure our ambition against what is “acceptable.” But why add one more obstacle to an already challenging path?

If there’s one thing I repeat repeatedly, it’s this: the moment you start second-guessing yourself, stop. Stop giving into those whispers of doubt. Instead, leap. If you stumble, you’ll get up. If you fall, you’ll rise again. But you will have moved forward, and that’s what matters.

Another thing that holds us back is the belief that we are alone in our struggles. Or the feeling that reaching out for help is a sign of weakness or the people who can help are out of reach.

From my own experience, I can tell you—most people are more willing to help you than you think. Yes, some will say no. But so what? The people who reject you are not the ones you want to be associated with anyway. And for every door that closes, another one opens. The key is to ask. To believe that you are worthy of an opportunity and to go after it.

Success rarely happens overnight. When we see successful people, we are usually treated to their achievements. But we don’t see the years of struggle, the late nights, and moments of doubt. But all of those instances? They are part of the process. And one day, when someone asks you how you got to where you are, these struggles will be the story you tell. So, embrace them. Learn from them. Keep going.

Because a few years from now, you’ll look back and realize—those hurdles weren’t setbacks. They were stepping stones to something greater.

To the women of the future: stop limiting yourself. Own your journey. Go for it