Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi: How America's most powerful women look to make history again

Vice President Kamala Harris aims to become the nation's first female president in three years .

Pelosi and Harris aren't close personally, but their unlikely rise through San Francisco’s competitive political environment instilled in them a mutual admiration, according to multiple people in the orbits of both women.

Pelosi: "Politically, officially, personally, I have great respect for her".

San Francisco is a good training ground for politicians with ambitions for state or national office.

Political officer seekers must learn to navigate an electorate that is diverse, passionate and actively involved in the political process.

Those who successfully navigate the system, like Pelosi and Harris , apply the lessons learned in San Francisco when they move on to higher office.

Pelosi and Harris have the California way of wanting to do big, bold things for the country, Etienne says.

Pelosi is a tactician while Harris is better at putting herself in other people’s shoes.

"They're both just highly suited for the jobs that they actually have," Etienne said.

Pelosi: "Fate of the nation is at stake. Just be yourself".