Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Culture
Women of Impact

What is your greatest strength? The issue’s contributors answer.

The latest issue of National Geographic is the first ever with all female contributors. We asked each to say a bit about herself—specifically, her strengths.

ByNational Geographic Staff

Published October 15, 2019

• 14 min read

This story is part of our November 2019 special issue of National Geographic magazine, “Women: A Century of Change.” Read more stories here.

My greatest strength is my ability to recognize blind spots, see and hear things that most ignore, and spot pathways beyond well-worn trails.

Photograph by Rebecca Hale, NGM Staff

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

My belief in what I cannot see or hear but in what I feel.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Morgan Levy

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

I am tenacious. I am passionate about what I believe in. And I’m not afraid to fight for what I feel is right.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Jared Soares

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

I listen.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Erika Larsen

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

The ability to cross boundaries—social, physical, religious—to understand others. Also, knowing who I am and being true to myself.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Dalia Khamissy

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

My self-care. Weeks can go by where sacrifice is necessary but so is rest and love. There is no beauty or glory in suffering.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Christina Poku

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

I can delve beyond the obvious and apparent, and transform experiences into stories that matter.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Nilanjana Bhowmick

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Everything that’s in me by virtue of being a woman: I feel closely, live intuitively, and steal moments of silence from what I see.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Reuben Singh

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

My BS radar. I’m pretty good at reading people and can usually spot when someone’s spinning me a line.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Henrietta Garden

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

My greatest strength is the ability to see the potential, whether in people or in an idea, and to craft that potential into reality.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Carollyne Sinclaire

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

For every story, I look for an unexpected angle, a way of going beyond the surface, of finding the uncanny in the modern and familiar.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Alex Kneller

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Awareness. I try to see the world through the people who populate my stories and my life. Their perspectives lead to unexpected insights.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Hilmar Meyer-Bosse

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Empathy, and my ability to connect with people regardless of their culture and background and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

PHOTOGRAPH BY Nichole Sobecki, VII

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Go Further

Animals

Who buys lion bones? Inside South Africa’s skeleton trade
- Animals
- Wildlife Watch
Who buys lion bones? Inside South Africa’s skeleton trade
Axolotls and capybaras are TikTok famous—is that a problem?
- Animals
Axolotls and capybaras are TikTok famous—is that a problem?
5 surprising ways elephants have evolved
- Animals
- Interactive Graphic
5 surprising ways elephants have evolved
Elephants are learning to live with us. Can we do the same?
- Animals
- Interactive Graphic
Elephants are learning to live with us. Can we do the same?
See how Nat Geo photographed elephants over 100 years
- Animals
See how Nat Geo photographed elephants over 100 years
The secret superpowers of elephants, in stop motion, Video Story
- Animals
The secret superpowers of elephants, in stop motion

Environment

Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner
- Environment
Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner
Rats invaded paradise. Here’s how paradise fought back.
- Environment
Rats invaded paradise. Here’s how paradise fought back.
A giant mass of seaweed threatens beach season in the U.S.
- Environment
A giant mass of seaweed threatens beach season in the U.S.
What is aquaculture? It may be the solution to overfishing.
- Environment
What is aquaculture? It may be the solution to overfishing.
A deadly fungus with mysterious origins is raising alarms
- Environment
A deadly fungus with mysterious origins is raising alarms
Fast fashion goes to die in this Chilean desert
- Environment
Fast fashion goes to die in this Chilean desert

History & Culture

The real history of exorcisms that you don't see in movies
- History & Culture
The real history of exorcisms that you don't see in movies
Was this woman Egypt's first female pharaoh?
- History Magazine
Was this woman Egypt's first female pharaoh?
See how Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr around the world
- History & Culture
See how Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr around the world
'The Odyssey' offers more than just monsters and magic
- History Magazine
'The Odyssey' offers more than just monsters and magic
The forgotten history of cats in the navy
- History & Culture
The forgotten history of cats in the navy
Kosovo wants to decide its future—but will history hold it back?
- History & Culture
Kosovo wants to decide its future—but will history hold it back?

Science

These 7 hormones control your hunger. Can we influence them?
- Science
- Mind, Body, Wonder
These 7 hormones control your hunger. Can we influence them?
Can gum infections trigger arthritis symptoms?
- Science
Can gum infections trigger arthritis symptoms?
52-million-year-old bat skeletons are the oldest ever found
- Science
52-million-year-old bat skeletons are the oldest ever found
Plants can talk. Yes, really. Here’s how.
- Science
Plants can talk. Yes, really. Here’s how.
How magnesium affects your sleep and anxiety
- Science
- Mind, Body, Wonder
How magnesium affects your sleep and anxiety
How amber creates exquisite fossils
- Science
- Breakthroughs
How amber creates exquisite fossils

Travel

All aboard the slow train to Patagonia, a relic of a bygone era
- Travel
All aboard the slow train to Patagonia, a relic of a bygone era
8 of the best new hotels for a US city break in 2023
- Travel
8 of the best new hotels for a US city break in 2023
6 hiking and biking trails to explore in the Alps this summer
- Travel
6 hiking and biking trails to explore in the Alps this summer
The Civil War raged outside their homes. Explore their stories.
- Travel
The Civil War raged outside their homes. Explore their stories.
7 hands-on food and drink experiences to try in Italy
- Travel
7 hands-on food and drink experiences to try in Italy
Behind the fairytales: a journey into the Black Forest
- Travel
Behind the fairytales: a journey into the Black Forest

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Magazine

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

Magazine

How viruses shape our world

Read

Animals

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

Magazine

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read

Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore

Magazine

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

Magazine

How viruses shape our world

Read

Animals

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

Magazine

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read

Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore

Magazine

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

Magazine

How viruses shape our world

Read

Animals

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

Magazine

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read

Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore

What is your greatest strength? The issue’s contributors answer.

Read this next

Go Further

Animals

Environment

History & Culture

Science

Travel

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Legal

Our Sites

Join Us

Read this next

Around the world, women are taking charge of their future

Why the future should be female

For girls in science, the time is now

Once, most famous scientists were men. But that’s changing.

Go Further

Animals

Environment

History & Culture

Science

Travel

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Legal

Our Sites

Join Us

Follow us