Leadership, grit and coconut trees: Six quotable quotes by Kamala Harris

She’s now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 US Presidential Race and has her eyes on becoming the most powerful politician in the world.

If she is successful, Vice President Kamala Harris will become the first black woman to be elected US President.

Harris has already achieved many firsts, including being the first woman and the first woman of colour to be elected to the Vice President’s office. She was also the first South Asian-American to be elected to the US Senate, and the second African-American woman to become a Senator.

And she has a way with words.

Here are six quotable quotes from the candidate expected to secure the Democratic nomination.

1. On not taking no for an answer

In an interview with Forbes in 2021, Harris reflected on her career to date and her willingness to persevere when others had different ideas.

“I tell a lot of people I mentor I eat no for breakfast,” she said.

“I have been told many times during my career things from, ‘oh, you’re too young’, ‘it’s not your turn’, ‘they’re not ready for you’, ‘no one like you had done it before’. I’ve heard all of those things many times over the course of my career but I didn’t listen and I would encourage anyone who’s been told that, whatever their gender, to not listen.

“Don’t be encumbered by the inability of others to see the potential of who you are.”

2. On understanding the context

You may have already noticed the references (and memes) related to coconuts and coconut trees throughout the Harris’ presidential campaign. These stem from a remark Harris made in May 2023, as explained in this article.

Harris was speaking at the White House, during the swearing-in of the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. In particular, she was speaking about the importance of equity in education and how factors like financial resources and the environment in which a student grows up in can affect the opportunities they receive.

“None of us just live in a silo,” she reportedly said, and “everything is in context”.

“My mother used to — she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’” Harris said.

“You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”

3.  On impostor syndrome

Most of us are familiar with impostor syndrome and there are countless examples of business leaders opening up about the times they’ve felt like an impostor.

During a rally in Iowa in 2020, Harris reportedly told two young women: “When you want to lead, you lead”.

“You never have to ask anyone’s permission to lead. Just lead”, she tweeted.

Never ask anyone’s permission to lead. Just lead. pic.twitter.com/FSXvG6UBDC

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 5, 2020

4. On speaking like a leader

5. On not staying in your own lane

A consistent theme in much of Harris’ advice is the importance of staying true to oneself.

At the 2020 Black Girls Lead conference, she reminded attendees to shake off the expectations of others.

“There will be people who say to you, ‘You are out of your lane,’” she said.

“They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be. But don’t you let that burden you.”

Harris has previously implored young women and girls to use their voices and “be strong”.

“What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters,” she said in an interview with Marie Claire.

“You’re going to walk into many rooms in your life and career where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. But you remember that when you are in those rooms, you are not alone. We are all in that room with you applauding you on. Cheering your voice. And just so proud of you. So you use that voice and be strong.”