The event at The Women's Museum, dubbed "Stories From the Top: Their Odyssey," attracted more than 400 people, mostly women, who paid $175 a ticket to see their role models.

Most were not disappointed.

Clinton, the Democratic secretary of state, and Hutchison, the Republican senior senator from Texas, spoke to each other like close sisters, rather than political adversaries who share almost nothing in common.

The highlight of the 55-minute conversation occurred when Hutchison interrupted Clinton to weigh in on the former New York senator's historic but unsuccessful presidential campaign last year.

"The most incredible thing I saw in you during this period was your ability to keep a happy face, a confident face, when you were getting so many disappointments," Hutchison said.

Hutchison noted that Clinton was able to get over her loss and help Barack Obama win the White House.

"That character is why you're secretary of state today," she said.

WFAA-TV (Channel 8) anchor Gloria Campos, the moderator of the program, had asked both women about their "a-ha moments" that shaped their outlooks.

"I had an a-ha moment that I wasn't going to be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States," Clinton said. "That was a different kind of a-ha moment."

Clinton spoke only briefly about foreign policy, telling the crowd she spent the morning with the president rolling out the administration's goals for Afghanistan.

Later Friday night, she was scheduled to receive an award from Planned Parenthood in Houston.

Hutchison, who plans to run for governor, did not discuss her campaign or incumbent Rick Perry.

Most of the day was centered on encouraging young women to aim high. Several all-girls schools were in the audience.

"You have to decide whether you're going to give up or soldier on," Clinton said about overcoming adversity.

Hutchison said that as a young woman, she had to get past self-doubt. She said preparation and experience is important in reaching goals.

"Girls, especially, have been afflicted with this," she said. "With experience, I have learned that I absolutely can do anything."

Clinton said her job - and Hutchison's rise as well - often made them loners.

"It is somewhat lonely and isolating to have to think about what we're facing, but it's also a privilege to do it with our states and countries," she said.