Hillary Clinton calls on female activists to lead

WELLESLEY, Mass. (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging female activists to continue breaking barriers and forge paths to political leadership.

Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright encouraged women to continue their activism and work in public service across the globe during the opening ceremonies of the inaugural two-week female leadership conference at Wellesley College

Clinton and Albright returned to their alma mater to address conference delegates, 50 influential women from 21 countries, at the Women in Public Service Institute.

Clinton told delegates that she is looking to them for their leadership and hoping they will create change and "lasting progress" in their countries.

The conference aims to train women with leadership skills in an effort to increase female global leadership by 2050.