Geraldine Ferraro was a pioneer, and she was also a great friend and mentor. I will always cherish her many words of wisdom, encouragement and advice. And I will never forget the words she spoke at the 1984 Democratic National Convention that were so inspiring for a young woman like me to hear. "By choosing a woman to run for our nation's second highest office," she said, "you send a powerful signal to all Americans: There are no doors we cannot unlock. We will place no limits on achievement. If we can do this, we can do anything."
We can run for elected office and win, or we can run companies and sit in the corner office. That's one of the many lessons Geraldine taught us with grace and determination. She said it so eloquently: "Ask not what America can do for women, but ask what women can do for America!" That's as true for the next generation of women as it is for mine.
Gillibrand is a U.S. Senator from New York