--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd like to believe that achieving a…" description: "\"I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition, so I try not to distinguish between the sexe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/heather-bresch-16417_advice_i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-lea_351135.png" --- # I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position… ![“I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition, so I try not to distinguish between the sexes when it comes to giving career advice.” quote by Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/heather-bresch-16417_advice_i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-lea_351135.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/heather-bresch-16417_advice_i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-lea_351135.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/heather-bresch-16417_advice_i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-lea_351135.png) > “I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition, so I try not to distinguish between the sexes when it comes to giving career advice.” [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She argues that leadership should be gender‑neutral, based on skill and ambition, not sex. **In simple terms:** Leadership depends on ability, not gender. Key Takeaway Promote merit, reject bias. Themes leadership gender equality career development Mood assertive hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - hiring - mentoring - policy making - team building Key Concepts Meritocracy bias awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations ensure gender‑neutral promotions? - What barriers remain for women in leadership? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated biases takes time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieving Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieving-leadership-3243002/) [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) [Capability Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability-ambition-3243004/) [Career advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-advice/) [Competency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competency/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-position-788989/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Position Competency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position-competency-3243003/) ## Related quotes > [In any leadership position, you're always going to be disappointing somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/in-any-leadership-position-you-re-always-going-to-be-disappointing/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [“Dominion is a leadership position; it’s over things, and not necessarily over people. An attempt to usurp dominion over another person will only lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-walker-wade/dominion-is-a-leadership-position-it-s-over-things-and-not/) [Michelle Walker-Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-walker-wade/) > [As a leader, you have to not only do the right thing, but be perceived to be doing the right thing. A consequence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-sonnenfeld/as-a-leader-you-have-to-not-only-do-the-right-thing-but-be-perceived/) [Jeffrey Sonnenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-sonnenfeld/) > [I don't care tuppence whether I'm forced into a leadership position or not. I'd much sooner not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-don-t-care-tuppence-whether-i-m-forced-into-a-leadership-position/) [E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/) > [We know we must address climate change. We may not have sorted out every detail, but we are willing to take a leadership position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-j-p-belda/we-know-we-must-address-climate-change-we-may-not-have-sorted-out/) [Alain J. P. Belda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-j-p-belda/) > [It's not leadership by position that allows people to succeed; it's the capacity to influence the thoughts, the feelings, the emotions, and the actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/it-s-not-leadership-by-position-that-allows-people-to-succeed-it-s/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The reality is that the leader of a country cannot choose the era in which the person takes that leadership position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/the-reality-is-that-the-leader-of-a-country-cannot-choose-the-era-in/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [Leadership is not a position. It consists of action with transparency and to set high example of integrity, honesty and to strive for welfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/leadership-is-not-a-position-it-consists-of-action-with-transparency/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [I'm really comfortable in a stressful, leadership position. I need this job. I need to do this. This fits my personality. This is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-johnson/i-m-really-comfortable-in-a-stressful-leadership-position-i-need-this/) [Avery Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-johnson/) > [You can't defer if you're the person who's in the leadership position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/you-can-t-defer-if-you-re-the-person-who-s-in-the-leadership-position/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [If you are in a leadership position, do not rely on your title to convince people to follow you. Build relationships. Win people over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-are-in-a-leadership-position-do-not-rely-on-your-title-to/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The fastest surging woman leadership position is heading non-profit organizations. Women are not rejecting leadership positions -- they're rejecting politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celinda-lake/the-fastest-surging-woman-leadership-position-is-heading-non-profit/) [Celinda Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celinda-lake/) > [For too long, I equated leadership with a position. I thought leaders were presidents or politicians or celebrities or four-star generals with a horse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/for-too-long-i-equated-leadership-with-a-position-i-thought-leaders/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [“Our best leaders recognize that leadership has nothing to do with position or power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-barnes/our-best-leaders-recognize-that-leadership-has-nothing-to-do-with/) [Jeffrey A. Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-barnes/) > [Leadership is a position where you want to create the opportunity to inspire people to walk along beside you, not listen to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-whitworth/leadership-is-a-position-where-you-want-to-create-the-opportunity-to/) [Andrew Whitworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-whitworth/) ## More by Heather Bresch > [If you put on your business hat, you can't maintain competitiveness by staying at a competitive disadvantage. I mean, you just can't. The odds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/if-you-put-on-your-business-hat-you-can-t-maintain-competitiveness-by/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [The pharma pricing system was not built on the idea of consumer engagement. It was built... on market efficiencies. It was not built on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/the-pharma-pricing-system-was-not-built-on-the-idea-of-consumer/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [There is no substitute for hard work when it comes to achieving success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/there-is-no-substitute-for-hard-work-when-it-comes-to-achieving/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [You know what makes me want to cry? I think, whoever the next Facebook is, why would you ever start that company here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/you-know-what-makes-me-want-to-cry-i-think-whoever-the-next-facebook/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/we-recognize-the-significant-burden-on-patients-from-continued-rising/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [Throughout our history we have been tireless advocates for expanding access to high-quality, affordable medicine. This is especially true in the area of HIV/AIDS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/throughout-our-history-we-have-been-tireless-advocates-for-expanding/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [I would say that the pharmaceutical industry is hyper-competitive from a global perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/i-would-say-that-the-pharmaceutical-industry-is-hyper-competitive/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [I'm running a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/i-m-running-a-business/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [Patients deserve increased price transparency and affordable care, particularly as the system shifts significant costs to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/patients-deserve-increased-price-transparency-and-affordable-care/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [Someone in Washington needs to get serious about fixing the tax code. That is what needs to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/someone-in-washington-needs-to-get-serious-about-fixing-the-tax-code/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [There is simply no substitute for hard work when it comes to achieving success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/there-is-simply-no-substitute-for-hard-work-when-it-comes-to/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [As a leader, these attributes - confidence, perseverance, work ethic and good sense - are all things I look for in people. I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/as-a-leader-these-attributes-confidence-perseverance-work-ethic-and/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [Being a woman leader is secondary to me - and should be to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/being-a-woman-leader-is-secondary-to-me-and-should-be-to-others/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [When I hear things like 'unpatriotic,' I just chalk it up to a lot of political rhetoric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/when-i-hear-things-like-unpatriotic-i-just-chalk-it-up-to-a-lot-of/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [Look, I think if you've got a niche portfolio or just operating in one country, like the United States, your ability to absorb the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/look-i-think-if-you-ve-got-a-niche-portfolio-or-just-operating-in-one/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) [Explore all 39 Heather Bresch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition, so I try not to distinguish between the sexes when it comes to giving career advice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heather Bresch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-leadership-position-is-all-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-leadership-position-is-all-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/heather-bresch-16417_advice_i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-lea_351135.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/heather-bresch-16417_advice_i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-lea_351135.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/heather-bresch-16417_advice_i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-lea_351135.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition…” — Heather Bresch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Heather Bresch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd like to believe that achieving...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-leadership-position-is-all-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/i-d-like-to-believe-that-achieving-a-leadership-position-is-all-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```