Nominations for this year's Women of Influence awards close this Friday.

In New Zealand, there is a 11.8 per cent pay gap between women and men. Women remain under-represented in Parliament and on the boards of this country's leading companies.

The Women of Influence programme is committed to increasing the visibility of women's leadership, highlighting the important contribution women make in creating a bold and diverse future for New Zealand.

RORY O'SULLIVAN & ROB KITCHIN/Stuff.co.nz Some of the Women of Influence alumni discuss what the accolade means to them.

Below some of our Women of Influence alumni talk about discrimination, barriers females face in the workplace and why women should be recognised for their contribution.

"Women still do not have equal opportunities, and it is beholden on all of us who have succeeded to open the doors to women who are coming in. I have to say young women nowadays are amazing."

- Fran Wilde, former Wellington mayor

"I think that sometimes we assume we are not as good as others. I really hope that more females will build that capability and belief in themselves and enhance the confidence to step up into either new roles or perhaps roles that haven't been filled by females."

- Frances Valintine, founder of The Mind Lab

Chris Skelton/FAIRFAX NZ Women of influence / Question 4, If you were Prime Minister for a day how would you help women?

"It was 1978-1981. It was very lonely and it was quite brutal. It was a battle every day. I kept going because somebody had to, when you're sitting there you can't turn around and pass that buck. What kept me going were hundreds of women, many many that I never knew, writing letters to me. It was huge support, amazing."

- Marilyn Waring, professor and former MP, on being the only woman in the government caucus under Muldoon's leadership

"We will know when our workplaces have fully embraced talent when we don't need to talk about 'women in the workplace and business' but we talk about how to recruit and retain the best people. We have a long way to go but there are many promising and exciting things happening in a range of organisations."

- Jo Cribb, former chief executive at the Ministry for Women

"​As an Asian and a female, I have encountered overt and subtle discrimination. They've ranged from racist and sexist jokes in front of me, to having my leadership undermined and questioned by members of my team who had problems reporting to a female. I use my judgment on whether I should call out the behaviour."

- Althea Carbon, lawyer and social entrepreneur

PETER MEECHAM/stuff.co.nz

"Specifically in chemistry, I see young women who do their PhDs and as soon as they fall pregnant, they have to leave the lab because they can't touch the chemicals because of the dangers to the developing embryo. The career break impacts them considerably as they literally cannot do any experimental work."

- Professor Margaret Brimble, scientist

"Women suffer from quite a lot of guilt and there is less confidence in women than men. I think that belief and resilience are quite important for women to develop. Women have to have that inner belief. I always say to women 'Who do you have as your professional support structure?' In the workplace, women need to develop this, I think that's made a difference to me. Someone who validates your beliefs in the workplace."

- Dame Therese Walsh, sports administrator



"I think there is still a sense of a glass ceiling... It's important that women don't limit themselves."

- Jeanette Richardson, company director



"Women lack confidence and belief in themselves. They overanalyse before taking a step which sometimes comes across as lack of capability. We've got to get across the message that you learn on the job. Not everybody knows everything."

- Ranjina Patel, founder of the East Tamaki Healthcare Group



"I think the biggest challenge for me is to try and change the general perception of computer science and technology. Unfortunately, the younger generation have a false image of computer science. I'm trying to encourage more girls to pursue it as a career. We still have a long way to go but hopefully all the little things will make a difference."

- Mahsa Mohaghegh, senior lecturer at Unitec

"It's a responsibility to take the opportunities that have been created and create even more opportunities not just for ourselves but for the next generations of women as well... So much has been done for equal rights of women and it's up to us to keep charting that path."

- Victoria Crone, former CEO of Xero and Auckland mayoral candidate

"I don't think being a woman nowadays is any easier, I think it's tough, trying to be the best at your career and the best mother and the best partner. The number one issue for women who have had children is how to juggle everything."

- Kerry Prendergast, former Wellington mayor

* Nominations for this year's Women of Influence awards close on July 15. Presented by Westpac and Fairfax Media, the awards acknowledge and celebrate women who are helping to shape the future of the country. Nominate someone today at womenofinfluence.co.nz.