--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind…" description: "\"I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point that I was going to spend the rest of my life assisting women and youth to gain social and polit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/joyce-banda-26839_business_i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind_1554960.png" --- # I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point… ![“I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point that I was going to spend the rest of my life assisting women and youth to gain social and political empowerment through business and education. I convinced myself economic empowerment of women was going to be key, especially in a country like…” quote by Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/joyce-banda-26839_business_i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind_1554960.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/joyce-banda-26839_business_i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind_1554960.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/joyce-banda-26839_business_i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind_1554960.png) > “I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point that I was going to spend the rest of my life assisting women and youth to gain social and political empowerment through business and education. I convinced myself economic empowerment of women was going to be key, especially in a country like this where most women didn't go to school.” [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She resolved to dedicate her life to empowering women and youth socially and politically via business and education, believing economic empowerment is essential especially where women lack schooling. **In simple terms:** She decided to help women and youth gain power through business and education. Key Takeaway Commit to empowering women through economic and educational opportunities. Themes empowerment gender equality education business social change Mood determined hopeful inspirational Type motivational visionary. When to use this quote - community development - NGO work - policy advocacy - entrepreneurship training Key Concepts economic empowerment political participation capacity building Questions to Reflect On - How can economic programs overcome cultural barriers? - What steps ensure sustainable empowerment? A Different Perspective Challenges include cultural resistance and limited resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic empowerment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-empowerment/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-convinced-2383845/) [Empowerment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowerment/) [Empowerment Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowerment-business-5820482/) [Empowerment Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowerment-women-490660/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I am a fierce advocate for the economic empowerment of all women. In the Congress, I am one of the leaders of an initiative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/i-am-a-fierce-advocate-for-the-economic-empowerment-of-all-women-in/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [I think the economic empowerment of women that has been growing over the past decade is at the 'inflection point' with this global recession.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-the-economic-empowerment-of-women-that-has-been-growing-over/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [I want to reach young women and to get them involved in the mission of the YWCA, economic empowerment of women and girls, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-ireland/i-want-to-reach-young-women-and-to-get-them-involved-in-the-mission/) [Patricia Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-ireland/) > [Overall, I have formed three major organizations: the National Association of Business Women, the Young Women's Leaders Network, and the Joyce Banda Foundation. Under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/overall-i-have-formed-three-major-organizations-the-national/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [Education, I am convinced, must be nothing more than this: The journey toward the limits of Reason, if any there be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mitchell/education-i-am-convinced-must-be-nothing-more-than-this-the-journey/) [Richard Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mitchell/) > [The BJP is certainly for empowerment of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/the-bjp-is-certainly-for-empowerment-of-women/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > [Given my own experience in national security, I have seen while serving abroad just how important women's economic empowerment is to national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/given-my-own-experience-in-national-security-i-have-seen-while/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Walmart's Global Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative is working to create opportunity and empower women and girls in markets around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-mathews-burwell/walmart-s-global-women-s-economic-empowerment-initiative-is-working/) [Sylvia Mathews Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-mathews-burwell/) > [We believe in the empowerment of women and we will not compromise in that goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bowen/we-believe-in-the-empowerment-of-women-and-we-will-not-compromise-in/) [Chris Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bowen/) > [I've had many experiences and hold many identities, and I've done a lot of work in all these areas. All of those things have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/i-ve-had-many-experiences-and-hold-many-identities-and-i-ve-done-a/) [Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/) > [In my opinion, empowerment is when women have the chance to do what they want to do and the courage to do what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayani-gupta/in-my-opinion-empowerment-is-when-women-have-the-chance-to-do-what/) [Sayani Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayani-gupta/) > [One of my key issues is economic empowerment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-stefanik/one-of-my-key-issues-is-economic-empowerment/) [Elise Stefanik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-stefanik/) > [Equality begins with economic empowerment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/equality-begins-with-economic-empowerment/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [If there's anything the name #MeToo calls to us, it's that there's a lot more dimension to the equality of men and women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-badgley/if-there-s-anything-the-name-metoo-calls-to-us-it-s-that-there-s-a/) [Penn Badgley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-badgley/) > [I don't like the women who stand up for the empowerment of women at the expense of men. They try to demonize men, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/i-don-t-like-the-women-who-stand-up-for-the-empowerment-of-women-at/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) ## More by Joyce Banda > [What I am saying every day to Malawians is that time has come for us to move from aid to trade. We have picked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/what-i-am-saying-every-day-to-malawians-is-that-time-has-come-for-us/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [I got married at 22 and remained in an abusive marriage for 10 years. I made up my mind that that was never going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-got-married-at-22-and-remained-in-an-abusive-marriage-for-10-years/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [I want you to know that I don't have any right, Malawi has no right to stop any president from coming to an African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-want-you-to-know-that-i-don-t-have-any-right-malawi-has-no-right-to/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [Overall, I have formed three major organizations: the National Association of Business Women, the Young Women's Leaders Network, and the Joyce Banda Foundation. Under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/overall-i-have-formed-three-major-organizations-the-national/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [In 1989, I started the National Association of Business Women. We incorporated microfinance and different job training for women. We did a survey, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/in-1989-i-started-the-national-association-of-business-women-we/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [When I took over, the economy had almost collapsed. I told Malawians we needed to pass through difficult times. Two days ago I even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/when-i-took-over-the-economy-had-almost-collapsed-i-told-malawians-we/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [My dear husband, Richard, has been the driving force behind my success and rise to whatever level I am now. My story and legacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/my-dear-husband-richard-has-been-the-driving-force-behind-my-success/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [Leadership is about falling in love with the people you serve and the people falling in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/leadership-is-about-falling-in-love-with-the-people-you-serve-and-the/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [My father made sure I was treated equally with my brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/my-father-made-sure-i-was-treated-equally-with-my-brothers/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [Most African women are taught to endure abusive marriages. They say endurance means a good wife but most women endure abusive relationship because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/most-african-women-are-taught-to-endure-abusive-marriages-they-say/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [The first time I was privileged to meet president Mandela was during his visit to Malawi... shortly after he was released from prison. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/the-first-time-i-was-privileged-to-meet-president-mandela-was-during/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [But the fact that we had to devalue by 40% at once means that Malawians are feeling the shock, the impact of that huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/but-the-fact-that-we-had-to-devalue-by-40-at-once-means-that/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [I will forever be thankful to the Malawians and international community, and my professional army and army general, who said: 'No, we will follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-will-forever-be-thankful-to-the-malawians-and-international/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [I have chosen to fight against corruption in this country, though I have been advised not to because we are drawing closer to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-have-chosen-to-fight-against-corruption-in-this-country-though-i/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [It's heavy, but I am able to carry it. Why? Because I'm an African woman. An African woman carries heavy loads anyway. That's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/it-s-heavy-but-i-am-able-to-carry-it-why-because-i-m-an-african-woman/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) [Explore all 21 Joyce Banda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point that I was going to spend the rest of my life assisting women and youth to gain social and political empowerment through business and education. I convinced myself economic empowerment of women was going to be key, especially in a country like this where most women didn't go to school.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joyce Banda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind-at-that-point-that-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind-at-that-point-that-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/joyce-banda-26839_business_i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind_1554960.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/joyce-banda-26839_business_i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind_1554960.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/joyce-banda-26839_business_i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind_1554960.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I sat down in 1989 and I made up my mind at that point that I was going to spend the rest of my life…” — Joyce Banda", "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": "Joyce Banda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I sat down in 1989 and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind-at-that-point-that-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/i-sat-down-in-1989-and-i-made-up-my-mind-at-that-point-that-i-was/#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 } } ] } ```