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Challenge yourself and dream big, is the clear message from FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, speaking to FIFA.com in a special series celebrating International Women's Day 2021.

As the first Muslim, African and woman to hold the position of FIFA Secretary General, Fatma is a trailblazer for diversity and gender equality.

Her career history is extensive, joining FIFA in 2016 after 21 years working on high level United Nations (UN) programmes in Italy, the Republic of Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger, Madagascar, Nigeria, Central America and Central West Asia.

Fatma remains fully committed to use the unique power of football to support, encourage and empower people around the world, as she explains.

"I am very privileged and honoured to have girls and women look up to me," Fatma tells fifa.com.

"It is also a huge honour and a privilege to hold the position of FIFA Secretary General, and being the highest ranking woman at FIFA and in football. However, I am aware though of the tremendous responsibility this places upon me as a representative for women, which is something I take very seriously.

"I recognise that being the first woman and African to hold this position at FIFA is a game-changer and I want to inspire other women via my actions. I try to use my voice when and where appropriate to support important causes and people in need."

Read Fatma's interview in full here.

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