Who says that women don't have humor?
I really fell in love with Marie Claire because of the subtitle ‘Think smart, look amazing’. Throughout my career, I always felt a bit discriminated against (no worries, I didn't need therapy) because I wore nice (at least, I thought so) clothes.
On TV, I was always pushed into the lifestyle corner while I could also easily do that pre-interview with the Minister of Economic Affairs. It almost seemed like downdressing was a way to gain more respect from your superiors. Because if that little doll was so busy buying clothes and blow-drying hair, there couldn't be much useful going on in that pretty, dumb little head, could there?
Fortunately, I found support in Marie Claire and I refused to swap my Jimmy Choos for Birkenstocks. Moreover, I believe in the ideology that clothing helps you move forward in life. Did you know that women who wear heels and lipstick earn more than those who don't?
A month ago, I received training from Bas Mouton of Speech Republic. He coaches all sorts of big players from the business world but also politicians including Mark Rutte. Bas and I worked on my ‘core quest’, which in my case is my love for the ambitious woman and my frustration that people often see a successful woman as hard and ruthless. And certainly not funny. Attractive, smart, funny, and well-dressed. That would be too good to be true.
Now you and I know that is a load of nonsense. Look in the mirror, look at your friends. Look at Eva Jinek, Sacha de Boer, Bracha van Doesburg, Marion Pauw. All attractive, smart, successful, funny and also well-dressed.
I asked Bas to gather his favorite TED Talks from smart and amazing women and here is his list. We end with Margaret Thatcher, the greatest politician who ever lived and ruled the United Kingdom for twelve years. Always well-dressed, her hair ‘slightly waved’ and a signature handbag on her arm. I remember that Thatcher gave a speech somewhere years after her resignation. She climbed onto the stage and said to the audience: “I already knew you were expecting me. When I drove into the city, I saw a huge poster with The Mummy Returns.”
Who says that women don't have humor? We invented it.
Top 5
1. Jane Lynch – How funny she is!
2. Brené Brown – Both of her TED Talks are amazing. This is her first TED Talk by the way. Not for nothing has she become a worldwide bestselling author through this Talk.
3. Sheryl Sandberg - Sheryl is a feminist who is also inspiring for men. For example, she tells women: ‘Stop whining that everything has to be your way.’
4. Cameron Russell – Who says that models have no substance?
5. I placed her fifth because it's a bit old-fashioned, but as far as I'm concerned, this is the best female leader of all time. I'm talking about Margaret Thatcher:
