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

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.
Michele Norris, Writer, "Why the future should be female"

michele norris — Photograph by Rebecca Hale, NGM Staff

My belief in what I cannot see or hear but in what I feel.
Erika Larsen, Photographer, "Women speak up"

Erika Larsen — PHOTOGRAPH BY Morgan Levy

I am tenacious. I am passionate about what I believe in. And I’m not afraid to fight for what I feel is right.
Sarah Leen, Director of Photography, "The Nat Geo archive frames women's lives in photos"

I listen.
Lynn Johnson, Photographer, "Around the world, women are taking charge of their future"

Lynn Johnson — PHOTOGRAPH BY Erika Larsen

The ability to cross boundaries—social, physical, religious—to understand others. Also, knowing who I am and being true to myself.
Rania Abouzeid, Writer, "Around the world, women are taking charge of their future" and "How women are stepping up to remake Rwanda"

Rania Abouzeid — PHOTOGRAPH BY Dalia Khamissy

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.
Yagazie Emezi, Photographer, "How women are stepping up to remake Rwanda"

Yagazie Emezi — PHOTOGRAPH BY Christina Poku

I can delve beyond the obvious and apparent, and transform experiences into stories that matter.
Nilanjana Bhowmick, Writer, "How women in India demanded—and are getting—safer streets"

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.
Saumya Khandelwal, Photographer, "How women in India demanded—and are getting—safer streets"

Saumya Khandelwal — PHOTOGRAPH BY Reuben Singh

My BS radar. I’m pretty good at reading people and can usually spot when someone’s spinning me a line.
Angela Saini, Writer, "Once, most famous scientists were men. But that’s changing."

Angela Saini — PHOTOGRAPH BY Henrietta Garden

My greatest strength is the ability to see the potential, whether in people or in an idea, and to craft that potential into reality.
Lauren Brevner, Illustrator, "Once, most famous scientists were men. But that’s changing," and "9 women warriors through history"

Lauren Brevner — PHOTOGRAPH BY Carollyne Sinclaire

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.
Dina Litovsky, Photographer, "For girls in science, the time is now"

Dina Litovsky — PHOTOGRAPH BY Alex Kneller

Awareness. I try to see the world through the people who populate my stories and my life. Their perspectives lead to unexpected insights.
Claudia Kalb, Writer, "For girls in science, the time is now"

Claudia Kalb — PHOTOGRAPH BY Hilmar Meyer-Bosse

Empathy, and my ability to connect with people regardless of their culture and background and to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Lynsey Addario, Photographer/Writer, "On today's battlefields, women are in the fight"