Glen Cove City Hall hosted a panel Monday featuring females who were the first leaders in their respective positions.

The pioneering women shared their stories of how they got to where they are.

Geraldine Hart, the first female Suffolk County police commissioner, said her dream started at a very young age.

"It all started with a fifth-grade field trip for me to FBI headquarters," Hart said. "I took the tour and I was hooked. That was it. I was going to be an FBI agent."

Martine Materasso, the first female chief of the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau, described that the best leaders are ones who others can rely on, who listen and are patient.

"Make sure you give them the confidence also to do it because you don't want to have them there and then micromanage every single thing they do because most people don't want to work for that kind of person, that type of leader either," Materasso said.

Joanna Nunan, the first female superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy told listeners that she remembers a time when the Coast Guard was only around 15% women. Now, it's nearly 40%.

The panelists also gave advice for young girls or women still in school. They said it's important to persevere, enjoy the journey and never give up.