26 October 2023

18 Amazing Women Entrepreneurs

By Ronald Smith

When I think about successful women in business, I am truly inspired. These women have accomplished great things, and their stories serve as a reminder that anything is possible. In this article, I want to share with you the stories of 18 incredible women who have made a mark in the business world.

First up is Oprah Winfrey. You may know her as a talk show host, but she is also a successful businesswoman. Oprah built her media empire from scratch, and she continues to make a positive impact through her various ventures.

Next, let’s talk about Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. Sara had a simple idea to create comfortable shapewear, and she turned it into a multi-million dollar business. Her dedication and determination are truly inspiring.

Then, we have Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. Sheryl is a true leader who has made significant contributions to the tech industry. She is an advocate for women in the workplace and has inspired many with her book, Lean In.

Moving on to Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors. Mary made history by becoming the first female CEO of a major automaker. Her leadership skills and determination have helped steer the company towards success.

Now, let’s talk about Arianna Huffington, the founder of The Huffington Post. Arianna is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a strong advocate for wellness and work-life balance. She has created a platform that empowers writers and shares diverse perspectives.

Next up is Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo. Indra transformed the company during her tenure and has been a trailblazer for women in corporate America. Her strategic thinking and innovative approach have made her a true icon.

Now, let’s dive into the world of fashion with Diane von Furstenberg. Diane is not only a renowned fashion designer but also an entrepreneur. She created the iconic wrap dress and established her own brand, becoming a symbol of female empowerment.

Moving on to Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Mary Kay’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance. She started her business with a small investment and turned it into a global beauty empire.

Now, let’s talk about Janice Bryant Howroyd, the founder and CEO of ACT-1 Group. Janice has created one of the largest employment agencies in the United States. She is an advocate for diversity and has been recognized for her achievements in the business world.

Next, we have Ursula Burns, the former CEO of Xerox. Ursula began her career as an intern and worked her way up to become the head of the company. She is a trailblazer for women of color in corporate leadership.

Moving on to Gwynne Shotwell, the President and COO of SpaceX. Gwynne is a leading figure in the aerospace industry and has played a vital role in the success of SpaceX. Her determination and expertise have propelled the company to new heights.

Now, let’s talk about Katrina Lake, the founder and CEO of Stitch Fix. Katrina revolutionized the fashion industry by creating a personalized styling service. She is a visionary leader who has disrupted traditional retail.

Next up is Sophia Amoruso, the founder of Nasty Gal. Sophia started her business by selling vintage clothes on eBay and turned it into a multi-million dollar brand. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and creativity.

Moving on to Tory Burch, the fashion designer and CEO of her eponymous brand. Tory’s designs have become synonymous with effortless style. She has built a globally recognized brand and is a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Now, let’s talk about Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Meg is a seasoned executive who has led major companies with great success. Her leadership skills and business acumen are truly remarkable.

Next, we have Angela Ahrendts, the former Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple. Angela transformed the retail experience for Apple customers and established the company as a leader in this space. Her creative vision and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the Apple brand.

Moving on to Reshma Saujani, the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code. Reshma is an advocate for closing the gender gap in the tech industry. She has created opportunities for girls to learn coding and pursue careers in technology.

Lastly, let’s talk about Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and CEO of Bumble. Whitney revolutionized the world of online dating by putting women in control. She has created a platform that empowers women to make meaningful connections.

These 18 women entrepreneurs have paved the way for others and have shown us what is possible. Their stories are a reminder that with passion, determination, and hard work, we can achieve anything. So, let’s celebrate these amazing women and be inspired by their incredible achievements.

18 Amazing Women Entrepreneurs

Did you know that March is Women’s History Month? It’s a special time to honor and celebrate women from all walks of life, both past and present. And guess what? We’re shining a spotlight on some of the most successful female entrepreneurs in the world! Pretty cool, huh?

Now, let’s talk about these amazing women. Some of them were practically born to be successful entrepreneurs. They had that entrepreneurial spark from day one. But you know what’s even more inspiring? There are also entrepreneurs who failed before they finally found success. It just goes to show that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the journey.

Here’s the thing – these women come from all different backgrounds and industries. You’ll find them leading huge companies or starting their own small businesses. They’re everywhere! Some have been in the game for years, while others are just getting started. Some are co-founders of big companies, while others work as investors in marketing agencies.

Alright, let me share with you a list of 18 of the most successful female entrepreneurs in America. These women are absolute powerhouses in the business world, and they’re making waves. Get ready to be inspired!

The Powerhouses: 18 Unstoppable Female Entrepreneurs

Who are the most successful women entrepreneurs in America? There are so many to choose from, but I’ve selected these 18 businesswomen who have paved their own paths in the entrepreneurial world. From leading executives to famous musicians, these women are creating a splash in the business scene.

1. Beyonce (Giselle Knowles)

Net worth: $440 million

I want to talk about Beyonce first because she is not only an amazing singer-songwriter, but also a successful entrepreneur. She started her career in the entertainment industry when she was just a teenager in the 1990s. Beyonce is not only one of the best-selling musicians in the world, but she has also signed incredible multimillion-dollar deals and started her own brand called Parkwood Entertainment. On top of that, Beyonce produces movies, creates music, and even has her own clothing line. She does it all!

2. Meet Lynda Resnick

Let me introduce you to an amazing individual named Lynda Resnick. She’s not only a successful entrepreneur but also a generous philanthropist.

Lynda, along with her husband Stewart, established their very own holding company called The Wonderful Company. Through this company, Lynda has had the opportunity to work with numerous renowned brands such as POM Wonderful, Fiji water, and the Telefloral company, to name just a few.

Now, here’s something fascinating – Lynda’s company rakes in more than a staggering $4 billion in annual revenues. Impressive, right? Clearly, she knows a thing or two about making things happen!

3. The Inspiring Oprah Winfrey

Now, let’s shift our focus to another remarkable individual – Oprah Winfrey. You probably know her from her famous talk show, but there’s so much more to her.

Oprah has a net worth of around $2.6 billion, making her one of the wealthiest women in the world. But what really makes her stand out is her incredible journey and her dedication to making a positive impact.

Throughout her career, Oprah has paved the way for countless individuals, inspiring them to chase their dreams and overcome obstacles. She is a true symbol of empowerment and resilience, showing us that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

I’m going to tell you about some incredible women who have achieved a lot in their lives. They have shown us that with hard work and determination, anything is possible!

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is a really important person in the entertainment industry. She is also one of the most famous black entrepreneurs. She has been successful as an actress, a talk show host, a philanthropist, and an entrepreneur. What’s amazing is that she didn’t start off with a lot of money or resources. She came from very humble beginnings and worked hard to get where she is today. Oprah is a great example for all women, no matter their race or background. She continues to use her success to create new companies and bring attention to important causes all around the world.

Susan Wojcicki

Susan Wojcicki is another incredible woman who has achieved a lot in her career. She is one of the most successful businesswomen in the world. Since 2014, she has been the CEO of YouTube. But her journey started long before that. Susan has been a part of the tech industry for more than twenty years. Can you believe that she started her own business when she was just eleven years old? She used to sell spice ropes door to door. That’s pretty impressive! Susan shows us that you’re never too young to start your own business and make a big impact.

Caterina Fake

Caterina Fake is someone else I want to tell you about. Although she may not have as much money as Oprah or Susan, she has still accomplished a lot. Caterina is worth $25 million. That’s no small amount! She has been involved in many different ventures and has made a name for herself in the business world. Caterina is a great example of how hard work and determination can lead to success, no matter how much you start with. She shows us that even if you don’t have billions of dollars, you can still do amazing things.

I want to talk about Caterina Fake, an amazing entrepreneur and businesswoman. Back in 2004, she co-founded a really popular platform called Flickr. It’s a place where people can share and host their images and videos, and it has over 112 million users all around the world! Can you believe that?

But that’s not all. In 2007, Caterina went on to create another website called Hunch. And guess what? Now she’s the chairwoman for Etsy! She’s like a big boss in the Silicon Valley community. Oh, and did I mention that she’s also a super valuable angel investor?

Now, let’s move on to another powerful woman: Sophia Amoruso. This woman is something else! She’s not just an entrepreneur and a best-selling author, but she’s also the founder of this awesome American lifestyle brand called Nasty Gal. It was really successful and everyone was talking about it, but unfortunately, they ran out of money and went bankrupt in 2017. But you know what? Sophia didn’t give up. She kept going and started a whole new brand called Girlboss Media. Talk about determination, right?

Lastly, I want to tell you about Kylie Jenner. I’m sure you’ve heard of her before. She’s part of the famous Kardashian-Jenner family. But here’s the cool part – this girl is a billionaire! Yes, you heard that right, a billionaire! Her net worth is a whopping $1 billion! That’s a crazy amount of money for someone her age.

When I was a kid, I watched Kylie Jenner on a reality TV show called Keeping Up with the Kardashians. It was a show about her family, and little did I know that it would be the start of her successful career. Along the way, she must have received some great advice on running a business because now she’s the richest woman her age and a thriving entrepreneur. Jenner uses social media like a pro to promote her company, Kylie Cosmetics. In fact, she’s the most followed woman on Instagram and the second most followed person overall.

8. Arianna Huffington

Net worth: $100 million

I want to introduce you to some incredible women who have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields. Let’s start with Arianna Huffington. She’s not only a successful author, but also a columnist, publisher, and entrepreneur. In 2005, she founded the Huffington Post, which quickly became a popular website. Just six years later, she sold it to AOL for a staggering $315 million. Arianna then went on to create Thrive Global, an online community that focuses on mental health, wellness, and behavior change through content and technology.

A woman who has made a name for herself in the baking industry is Debbi Fields.

Her net worth is an impressive $200 million.

Debbi is the founder and spokesperson for Mrs. Fields Bakeries. Her products have become a household name, and her chain of fresh cookie retailers is now the largest in the United States. Despite starting out as a small business with limited financing, Mrs. Fields Bakeries has expanded to multiple countries and employs about 650 bakers in America.

Now let’s talk about Indra Nooyi.

Her net worth is $100 million.

Indra Nooyi is a woman who has made her mark. She has achieved great success as a businesswoman. Although her net worth may be less than some others on this list, it is still an impressive figure. Indra’s accomplishments speak for themselves, and she’s an inspiration to many aspiring entrepreneurs.

Let me tell you about Indra Nooyi, an incredible woman who is considered one of the most powerful female entrepreneurs in the world. She’s not only successful in business, but she’s also an author. For over ten years, she was the chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Co, where she earned more than $31 million every year. After working with Pepsi for 24 years, Nooyi retired and now serves on the boards of Amazon and Philips.

Number 11. Sheryl Sandberg

She’s worth $1.6 billion.

Sheryl Sandberg is an amazing entrepreneur and philanthropist. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to be a part of Facebook’s board of directors. Since 2008, she has been the COO of the company, which is now called Meta. It’s because of her leadership that Facebook has reached incredible heights of success. Sandberg also started her own organization, LeanIn.Org, a non-profit that helps women to dream big and achieve their goals.

Number 12. Sara Blakely

She’s worth $1.1 billion.

I want to tell you about some truly incredible women who have achieved great success and made a significant impact in their respective industries. One of these remarkable women is Sara Blakely, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Sara Blakely started her company, Spanx, from scratch with very little money. She faced countless rejections from potential investors. But she didn’t let that stop her. She persevered and eventually found success when her products were promoted by another successful female entrepreneur, Oprah Winfrey. This was a turning point for her, and her fortune skyrocketed.

13. Janice Bryant Howroyd

Net worth: $420 million

Another inspiring woman is Janice Bryant Howroyd, the founder of ActOne Group. She made history as the first African-American female to lead a company that exceeds $1 billion in annual revenue. Howroyd started her company with just $1,500 in 1978. Today, ActOne Group is a renowned employment agency and consultancy, serving more than 17,000 clients in 19 countries. It’s no surprise that Forbes recognized her as one of the richest self-made women.

14. Tory Burch

Net worth: $850 million

Tory Burch is another extraordinary woman who has achieved remarkable success. With a net worth of $850 million, she has made a significant impact in the fashion industry. Burch has built her fashion empire from the ground up, showcasing her creativity and business acumen. Her brand is globally recognized and admired by many.

I want to tell you about some incredible women who have achieved great success in their respective fields. Let’s start with Tory Burch, a talented fashion designer and businesswoman. She started her own brand in 2004 and now it’s worth over $1.5 billion! Her label offers a range of stylish lifestyle products, like designer handbags, shoes, and clothes. You can find her stores all around the world, over 300 of them!

15. Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty)

Net worth: $1.7 billion

Now, let’s talk about Rihanna, who isn’t just an amazing singer, but also one of the wealthiest female singers in the world! But, did you know that most of her fortune comes from Fenty Beauty, a cosmetics line she co-owns? It’s super popular! Rihanna’s business ventures don’t stop there though. She also has a lingerie line called Savage X Fenty, and she even started a foundation called the Clara Lionel Foundation. Through this foundation, she raises millions of dollars to help with important issues like climate change and social causes.

16. Melanie Perkins

Net worth: $6.5 billion

Last but not least, let’s meet Melanie Perkins. She has a net worth of $6.5 billion! Impressive, right? Melanie is a successful entrepreneur who has made her mark in the tech world. She’s the co-founder of a design platform called Canva. It’s an amazing tool that helps people create all sorts of designs easily. With Melanie’s leadership, Canva has become a huge success and is used by millions of people all over the world.

I’m Canva’s CEO and co-founder, Melanie Perkins. I’m proud to be one of the younger female entrepreneurs on this list, disrupting the industry before turning 30. In 2013, I launched our powerful graphic design platform, and it’s been a wild ride since then! Canva now has over 60 million monthly users, and the company is valued at a whopping $40 billion. It’s been an incredible journey!

Let me introduce you to another remarkable woman, Lori Greiner. She’s not just a successful American jewelry designer and entrepreneur, but also an inventor. You might recognize her as one of the investors on the TV show Shark Tank since 2012. But here’s the thing, even before her TV fame, Lori was already selling out her designs on QVC for years! She’s also the founder of For Your Ease Only, Inc. Talk about a multifaceted talent!

Last but definitely not least, let me tell you about Judy Faulkner. She’s an extraordinary woman with a net worth of $5.6 billion. Judy founded a company called Epic Systems Corporation. She has truly made her mark in the world of healthcare technology! Her company’s software helps doctors and medical professionals provide better patient care. With her incredible success, Judy is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. What a powerhouse!

I’m Judy Faulkner, and I’m proud to say that I’m one of the world’s richest female entrepreneurs. You see, I started a healthcare software company called Epic Systems back in 1979, right in my basement in Wisconsin. Since then, I’ve worked hard to make Epic one of the top software companies in the world. It’s no surprise that Forbes has recognized me as one of the most influential women in healthcare.

Let’s Celebrate Women Entrepreneurs Together!

I don’t think we should only celebrate women’s entrepreneurship during Women’s History Month. We should always be supporting and cheering on other female entrepreneurs in our small businesses. It’s not only great to read success stories of women in business, but it’s even better to take action and support each other.

If you want to support your fellow businesswomen and empower them, one way to do it is by teaming up with them for joint business ventures or by hiring aspiring female entrepreneurs for important roles in your company. By doing this, you’re not only creating opportunities for women but also contributing to their growth and success.

Have you ever wondered who the most famous female business owner in the US is?

Curious about the standout businesswomen in the United States? Well, while different women have different levels of fame in different industries, Oprah Winfrey is definitely one of the most renowned woman entrepreneurs, especially in the entertainment world. In fact, she’s quite famous overall. With a mind-blowing net worth of over $2.6 billion, Winfrey has made a significant impact in television, publishing, business, and philanthropy.

But who actually holds the title of the first female entrepreneur?

Do you know who was the very first female entrepreneur? Her name was Sarah Breedlove, but she is also known as Madame C.J. Walker. She was an incredible woman who became the very first American woman to become a millionaire through her own hard work. What makes her even more amazing is that she started with almost nothing. She created a line of cosmetics and hair care products specifically for black women during the early 1900s. Can you imagine the obstacles she faced during that time? It’s truly inspiring!

Now, let me ask you this: who do you think is the most successful businesswoman in the United States?