Oprah Winfrey: 'It is time for women in the world to set the agenda'

By Michael Rothman

The 10th Annual Women in the World Summit began Wednesday night and what better, self-made icon to kick things off than Oprah Winfrey.

Winfrey joined the likes of Oscar-winner Brie Larson at the summit in New York City, which brings activists, actors, journalists, and leaders together to talk about current issues, and in classic Oprah fashion, gave a speech for the ages.

"We live in a country that has somehow confused cruel with funny, serious with intelligent, attitude with belief, personal freedom with stockpiling assault weapons, and what is moral with what is legal," the media mogul told the thousands in attendance.

Winfrey said the time is now for women to lead.

"So it is time for women in the world to set the agenda. It’s time for women to redefine the message," she continued. "We need to make that message a positive one. Let’s make it ambitious, and inclusive, and brimming with hope."

“We women are used to saving other folk. We’ve been doing it a long time.” @Oprah delivered what @TinaBrownLM described as a 'feminist jam' last night on the opening night of #WITW 10th Anniversary Summit. https://t.co/BbVNIhslfd pic.twitter.com/O9Vd0415hJ

— Women in the World (@WomenintheWorld) April 11, 2019

Winfrey said the world needs women to continue to "rock the boat" in order to not just get equality, but so they can be the ones to save this planet.

"And then when the smoke clears and all the naysayers who said it couldn't be done settle down, we need to reinvent the game," she added. "I don’t need to tell any of you that the game was not built on an even playing field. We prove ourselves, again and again and again, and we maintain a healthy skepticism, but we refuse to become cynical.”

⚡️ “Oprah Kicks Off 2019 #WITW Summit”https://t.co/8MPRhrNR5e

— Women in the World (@WomenintheWorld) April 11, 2019

If that wasn't enough to bring chills to your spine in the best way, Larson later joined a panel to talk about "Captain Marvel's" success and equal pay in Hollywood. She's also just released her directorial debut on Netflix.

"The idea that the women cannot make movies, or the female story is not high art, is bogus and I don’t for a second want to buy into it," she said. "I'm very grateful to break this glass ceiling that women can also make a billion dollars," she continued, alluding to "Captain Marvel's" recent global milestone.

Brie Larson may be one of the most sought after women in Hollywood, but she doesn’t see her soaring success as exceptional. The idea that women can’t carry movies?

‘I don’t for a second buy into it.’:https://t.co/Oxff6DnNUV pic.twitter.com/h9AjYBW8nJ

— Women in the World (@WomenintheWorld) April 11, 2019

"The reason why I was able to get the payment that I got from the movie, a lot of it had to do with the women who came before me...Don’t do it for you. Do it for the next woman,” she added.

Actor and Director @brielarson, fresh from smashing box-office records as @captainmarvel , sits down with @VanityFair Editor-in-Chief @radhikajones about soaring as a woman in Hollywood. #WITW

Watch the complete conversation:https://t.co/Oxff6DnNUV pic.twitter.com/hBVASYcoU6

— Women in the World (@WomenintheWorld) April 11, 2019

She also spoke about the #MeToo movement and the enormous social shift this country and the world has seen in the past couple years with more women sharing their truth.

"We of course have a long way to go, but it is without a doubt the reason that we have this historic shift, because of the bravery of the men and women who spoke out about the abuse they were experiencing,” she said.