Meet 15 women who have created and defined contemporary American culture in American Masters: The Women’s List. The newest chapter of filmmaker/photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ List documentary series (American Masters: The Boomer List, The Black List, The Latino List, The Out List) features intimate interviews with:

Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State, 1997-2001
Gloria Allred, lawyer
Laurie Anderson, artist
Sara Blakely, entrepreneur
Margaret Cho, comedian
Edie Falco, actor
Elizabeth Holmes, scientist and entrepreneur
Betsey Johnson, fashion designer
Alicia Keys, singer-songwriter
Aimee Mullins, athlete and fashion model
Nancy Pelosi, politician
Rosie Perez, actor
Shonda Rhimes, writer-producer
Wendy Williams, talk show host
Nia Wordlaw, pilot

American Masters: The Women’s List focuses on these individuals’ exceptional achievements, struggles and identities. All trailblazers in their respective fields, these women share their experiences struggling against discrimination and overcoming challenges to make their voices heard and their influence felt. Toni Morrison opens the film with a reading of an introduction she wrote specifically for The Women’s List.

Launched in 1986, American Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards — including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series since 1999 and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special — 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. Now in its 29th season on PBS, the series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and also seen on the WORLD channel.

Ten Things To Remember From American Masters: The Women’s List

1) Speak Up
Learn to speak up for yourself. Your voice matters. Your voice is power.
Own it.

2) Give Grace
Remember to lift each other up. We are all fighting the fight and grace is boundless so let’s give it.

3) You Are the Pilot
DO NOT be deterred by other people’s concerns for the path to success that you are on. They cannot see your success because it’s not for them to see. You are the pilot. Your loved ones are the passengers.

4) Be Authentic To Yourself
Be authentic to yourself and your dreams. Don’t change or suppress all that is within you to make other people comfortable in mediocrity. You are extraordinary. Be the extraordinary being that you are with no apologies.

5) You Are More
Don’t allow yourself to stay in self doubt. Don’t allow what people see and label you as limit what you see yourself as. You are more.

6) Be Resilient
Don’t see obstacles as obstacles you can’t face. Be resilient. You can do it.

7) Know Your Power
Understand that you are uniquely qualified. There is nobody like YOU.

8) Jealousy Is Not The Answer
Do not get caught up in what other people are doing and succeeding at. Stay the course, your course and you will find your treasure.

9) Men of Quality Are Not Threatened By Women of Equality
Feminism is not a dirty word. We should all be proud to be feminist. To be equal.

10) We Are Multitudes
We are multitudes, and society is clearly the better for our peaceful invasion. There is no modernity and no justice without the talent, the passion and the steely intelligence of women. – Toni Morrison

You can read Toni Morrison’s introduction to American Masters: The Women’s List here.

American Masters: The Women’s List premieres TONIGHT at 9pm on PBS and online beginning tomorrow at American Masters. Own American Masters: The Women’s List on DVD today