Female entrepreneurs are having an increasing impact within today’s businesses and innovations. In all sectors – including tech, beauty, media, and finance – there are an increasing number of examples of women who have created successful companies on a global scale, disrupted industries and inspired millions. Their stories are examples of creativity, resilience, and leadership.
Here are five women entrepreneurs who are very active today and are making a big difference.
1. Whitney Wolfe Herd – Reinventing Online Dating
Whitney Wolfe really changed the way people date online by founding and being CEO of Bumble, an online dating and networking platform that gives women the power to change the dating game. Bumble was launched in 2014 and one of its rules requires that women be the ones to initiate contact in heterosexual matches.
By changing this dating rule, Whitney created a more empowering and safe experience for women seeking relationships through an online platform.
Prior to starting Bumble, Whitney was a co-founder of Tinder. After she left Tinder, she used what she learned there, and created Bumble and, through her leadership, Bumble has grown outside of dating with the addition of a networking and friendship app, known as Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF.
Whitney Wolfe made history by being one of the youngest women to take a company public through Bumble’s IPO in 2021 and has become an inspiration to other aspiring entrepreneurs and advocates for women in technology.
2. Rihanna – Building a Beauty Empire
Rihanna has become a global music icon as well as one of the richest women in the world due to her successful business ventures within the retail beauty and fashion business. In 2017, she established Fenty Beauty with the goal of providing an inclusive range of cosmetics for individuals of all skin types.
At launch, Fenty Beauty changed the cosmetics industry by providing 40 foundation shades at launch, an unprecedented number compared to other brand launches to date; the industry saw many brands follow suit with increased product offerings.
In addition to Fenty Beauty, she also founded Savage X Fenty (a lingerie brand) which is built on the concepts of inclusion and diversity while advocating for body positivity. Rihanna has combined her creativity and inclusive approach with marketing innovation to create a powerful global business empire through both of her brands.
3. Melanie Perkins – Democratizing Design
Another notable entrepreneur is Melanie Perkins, who is the co-founder and CEO of Canva. Founded in 2013, Canva has become one of the largest online design platforms worldwide allowing anyone from students to businesses to simply produce professional-level designs.
When Perkins began teaching students how to use graphic design software, she discovered how much of a challenge it truly was to use traditional graphic design software, she saw an opportunity to create an easier to use web solution that would allow anyone to produce designs without requiring extensive training.
Canva is now used by millions of people around the globe to create everything from presentations to marketing materials, to social media graphics and more. Perkins’ leadership has led to the creation of one of the world’s most valuable startup companies and has proven how technology can empower creativity.
4. Sara Blakely – Founder of Spanx
As founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely is credited with cleaning up the shapewear market. She started with just $5,000 in savings in 2000, and a simple idea of creating an undergarment that would create a smoother appearance with clothing lines that were comfortable under clothing.
At the beginning of her business, Blakely was doing everything – from developing products and marketing them. After years of hard work and perseverance, she was fortunate enough to have her products featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which provided tremendous exposure to the brand.
Since then, Spanx has expanded beyond shapewear and now offers leggings, activewear, and daily apparel. As one of the youngest female self-made billionaires, Sara is known around the world as an incredible entrepreneur, and for her commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs as well as encouraging young females to start their own businesses.
5. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw – Pioneering Biotechnology
In India alone, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is among some of the more well known female entrepreneurs. Starting Biocon at her home-based business began in 1978; the company now ranks as a prominent global biopharmaceutical company. Through tenacity, she faced significant obstacles, such as a new platform in biotech investment, but ultimately became an integral part of providing affordable health care.
Today, Biocon specializes in devices, injectable medications, and therapeutic treatments for cancer and diabetes. In addition to her outstanding business accomplishments, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been recognized for her contributions to innovation in health care and also for her philanthropy and humanitarian causes.
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Summary
All five women entrepreneurs in this article are excellent examples of how women can change business through their entrepreneurial spirit and their innovation. Each one has changed barriers and created a global name for themselves in industries that range from technology to biotechnology to beauty and fashion. They serve as an inspiration for future generations through their endeavors that show that female entrepreneurs can create innovative and long-term growth in the worldwide economy with their vision, resolve, and creativity.
