Whether you're starting a new job or gearing up to launch your own business, chances are you're all ears for some good advice. And who better to dish out must-know tips than women who have been crushing the game for years? So, get fired up to take over the world (or at the very least—your company) with these pearls of working-girl wisdom.

1. REFUSE TO FEEL GUILTY 

Aria Finger
Aria Finger

"As a new CEO and a new mom, there is a lot to feel guilty about. Am I giving enough to my son? My husband? Or my job at DoSomething.org? So I've decided to banish guilt. It's completely counter-productive. Be present with however you decide to spend your time and that will always be the best answer."—Aria Finger, CEO of DoSomething.org

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2. BE A UNIQUE LEADER

Jess Lee
Jess Lee

“People sometimes think CEOs have to fit a classic mold of leadership. As an introvert, I was worried because I don’t fit that typical leadership stereotype. But I’ve learned that everyone can find their own unique leadership style. It helps to find someone with a similar style that you can learn from, and to play to your strengths. For example, CEOs often have to do a lot of presenting, but I am an introvert and hate public speaking. So I rely heavily on my design skills to pull together visuals and presentations that help do the talking for me.”—Jess Lee, Co-Founder and CEO of Polyvore

3. SET YOUR ‘BHAG’

Leah Busque
Leah Busque

“Your life is a balancing act, so it's important to first figure out what's most important to you, and then make sure to devote time to it. I encourage everyone to set a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (BHAG for short) and take baby steps to accomplish it. I certainly don't wake up every morning and think about how I'm going to revolutionize everyday work—that's just too lofty—but I do identify small, actionable steps that can be accomplished every day. I know that by making progress against those smaller, more attainable goals, TaskRabbit will reach our BHAG.”—Leah Busque, Founder and CEO of TaskRabbit

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4. THINK ON THE GO

Tyler Haney
Tyler Haney

“My best ideas often occur when I’m physically moving, so I try to incorporate casual activity into everything I do, from bike commuting to walking while taking business calls.”—Tyler Haney, Founder and CEO of Outdoor Voices

5. NEGOTIATE. NEGOTIATE. NEGOTIATE

Aarthi Ramamurthy
Aarthi Ramamurthy

“Don't be afraid to negotiate—whether it's negotiating work hours, pay, your title, or the exact responsibilities. I've noticed that women have a harder time negotiating when they get a job offer, compared to men, and I would highly recommend negotiating to get what you want. At the very worst, you get a 'No,' but you at least tried!”—Aarthi Ramamurthy, Founder and CEO of Lumoid

6. LEAD WITH YOUR HEART, NOT YOUR FEARS

Jill Dailey
Jill Dailey

“Starting a new business is scary, growing a business is hard, and change can often feel impossible. But if you can drop in and envision what truly feels right, in your heart, and allow yourself to go in that direction, the potential is exponentially greater. I’ve had times in my career when a boundary has been put up that feels impossible to overcome or an integral employee decides to leave. Instead of begrudging, worrying, and limiting myself, I ask myself ‘what can I learn from this?’ ‘what do I really want?’ ‘what direction feels the best?’ The end result is almost always a positive shift.”—Jill Dailey, Co-Founder and President of The Dailey Method

7. ASK THIS ONE QUESTION

Tal Winter and Kate Cutler
Tal Winter and Kate Cutler

"When you’re trying to decide whether a job or career is right for you, ask yourself ‘would I want my boss’s job?’ If the answer is no, take a hard look at the path you’re on."—Tal Winter and Kate Cutler, Founders of bkr

8. ASSEMBLE YOUR TEAM

Rachel Sklar
Rachel Sklar

“You need people around you who have your back, have faith in you, and will cheer you on as you rise. You need a core you can trust and who trust you right back, so they can feel safe to give you tough love and gently but firmly pull you back when you're about to repeat your mistakes or go off the rails. They'll be your loudest cheerleaders and your toughest critics, and you'll need both. And give it right back, because that's how you'll have their backs, too.”—Rachel Sklar, Founder and CEO of TheLi.st

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9. RAISE YOUR HAND

Kellee Khalil
Kellee Khalil

“At any company, you’re never solely responsible for one role. At a startup, you’re not only encouraged but sometimes pressed to develop new skill sets and camouflage to fit the needs of the company at that moment. Being a game changer in your respective industry isn't easy work, but you don't get there just by showing up.”—Kellee Khalil, Founder and CEO of Lover.ly

10. RESEARCH BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW

Annbeth Eschbach
Annbeth Eschbach

“What has always impressed me when interviewing is talking to a candidate that has done their research and is dialed in to discovering what it is that the company is really looking for, as opposed to selling what the candidate has to offer.”—Annbeth Eschbach, CEO of Exhale 

Headshot of Kristen Dold
Kristen Dold
Kristen Dold is a freelance writer based in Chicago. She was previously an editor at Women’s Health and Details magazines, and her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, GQ, Travel & Leisure, and Vice.