Hillary Clinton on Navigating Setbacks: ‘Take Criticism Seriously, Not Personally’

Following the debut of her MasterClass course on the power of resilience, former first lady, U.S. senator, secretary of state, and first female U.S. presidential nominee by a major party Hillary Clinton sat down with Glamour editor in chief Samantha Barry to tap into her personal stories of successes, failures, and discoveries. 

“We covered so much ground that I think there’s something in those classes for practically anybody,” Clinton says. The class culminates with Clinton addressing her most public defeat—her loss to Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election—and, for the first time publicly, she reads the victory speech she would have given had she won.

Not only does HRC give MasterClass members actionable takeaways on how to compromise, pivot, and become a better speaker, but she covers practical tools that have sustained her through a lifetime in the spotlight, including the “importance of personal strength.”

“How does a woman in the public eye, which we all are, show vulnerability?” asked HRC in her sit-down with Glamour. “Because so often it is still not accepted—for women it’s such a narrow line to walk.”

Hillary Clinton also included a bonus episode on mentorship with her top adviser, Huma Abedin. Both powerhouses spoke in their interview with Glamour on gratitude, encountering and navigating criticism, and impactful moments of their mentorship. Abedin’s admiration for mentor HRC is on full display below.