You're listening to TED Talks Daily. I'm Elise Hume. Despite making a lot of strides, women and women of color are still way outnumbered in political leadership around the world. In today's conversation from TED Women 2020, a pair of women trailblazers, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard,

and former Nigerian finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweila,

talk about their own experiences with sexism in the halls of power

and how they want to see change for men and women going forward.

Ngozi, 10 years ago when I became Prime Minister of Australia,

I assumed that at the start there would be a strong reaction to me being the first woman,

but it would abate over time and then I would be treated the same as every other Prime Minister

had been. I was so wrong. That didn't happen. The longer I govern,

the more visible the sexism became. I don't want any other woman to be blindsided like that.

That's why I'm so excited about working with you to help women get ready to lead in what is

still a sexist world?

I share that sense of excitement. After I was Finance Minister of Nigeria, I was overwhelmed

by the number of women who wanted me to be their mentor. It is terrific that aspiring young

women are keen to learn from those who have gone before.

But there are still too few female role models, especially women of color.

Now, as a result of the work we have done together, I can offer everyone clear standout lessons

that are based not just of my own experience, but on the global research on women and leadership

and the candid insights of leading women.

One of the things to share is that there's joy in being a leader

in having the opportunity to put your values into action.

Emphasising the positive makes a real difference

to the power of role modelling.

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