I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind leading.

Poehler reclaims the label “bossy,” challenging the way assertive behavior is often framed as a flaw—especially in women. By redefining the term as a marker of passion, engagement, ambition, and willingness to lead, she shifts attention from tone-policing to competence and initiative. The quote also critiques how language can enforce gendered expectations: traits celebrated as “leadership” in men are frequently recast as “bossiness” in women. Her enthusiasm (“I could be around them all day”) underscores admiration for directness and agency, presenting leadership not as domination but as energetic participation and responsibility-taking.