Five Female Entrepreneurs to Inspire You Today
In case you didn’t already know it, some of the biggest and coolest companies/brands out there were founded by women! Some of them moms, some of them wives, and some of them badass single ladies who had a vision and a dream and whipped it up into reality. If you’ve considered starting your own business or you were born with an entrepreneurial spirit, allow these five inspiring female entrepreneurs to motivate you today!
Sara Blakely, Spanx
Way back when, there was no way to wear undergarments that would actually hug a woman’s body while flattering it simultaneously. Sara Blakely of Spanx fame got the idea for her multi-billion dollar brand when she realized that she didn’t have the right undergarment to go under her white pants. (This was back when visible panty lines were a fashion faux pas!)
On a mission to help other women out there to look and feel their best when they were hitting the town in fitted clothing, Blakely went to work. She launched this now famous brand straight from her apartment back in 2000—answering calls and handling marketing herself! From the runway to the red carpet, Spanx are everywhere and their price point makes them accessible to both the average gal and celebrity. According to the company’s website, Sara was named the world’s youngest, self-made female billionaire by Forbes Magazine in March of 2012.
Jessica Alba, Honest Company
Although Jessica Alba rose to fame on the silver screen, it’s her brand and the idea behind it that has launched her into the female entrepreneur stratosphere. The Honest Company started with the idea that baby diapers should be natural and not contain strange chemicals and additives. Her own child had experienced severe diaper rash from grocery store brand diapers which claimed to be “all natural”—so Jessica knew that there had to be a better option. Quickly she realized if she wanted better for her baby, she’d have to create it.
So, she went to work with the vision in mind to create super cute diapers that were gentle to your kiddo and kind to the earth. And the best part? She’d ship them right to your front door. Needless to say, the rest is history! From diapers to baby soaps, lotions and more, Alba went public this year on the New York Stock Exchange, with an immediate valuation of over one billion dollars. Again, another ingenious idea turned sensation to the masses!
Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Productions
Three billion dollars. Let’s say that together one more time. THREE BILLION DOLLARS. And this was all earned by a woman who is the epitome of a survivor. Faced with racial biased, sexually abused as a child, and plagued by poverty in her youth, Oprah Winfrey did not have it easy by any stretch of the imagination. But she was a woman with grit, determination, and a way with people. Many have gravitate to Oprah for her radiant energy, wise words, and unbreakable spirit. And her story of triumph continues to inspire many today. Allow it to inspire you!
Melanie Perkins, Canva
Australian entrepreneur Melanie Perkins of Canva had an incredible idea as a teenager which she transformed into a billion dollar company all by the time she reached her 30th birthday. The founder and CEO had a vision to allow anyone to become a graphic artist, and she was going to create a platform to allow people to make beautiful designs without any formal graphic designer training. Hint: it worked!
From logos, to presentations, business cards and more, millions of people across the globe rely on Canva daily to create eye-catching designs with the help of her trusty website. Not bad for an idea that occurred to Perkins at only 19 years of age!
Rachael Ray, Rachael Ray Brands, Chef, Author
Rachael Ray has said that she grew up in a food family. And she’s living proof that you can turn your passion into a thriving business—worth $100 million! Long before she won audiences over on the Food Network with her hit show 30 Minute Meals, Ray knew she always wanted to do something with food. To date, she’s launched New York Times best-selling cookbooks, several successful Food Network programs, her own CBS sponsored daytime talk show, Rachel Ray cooking products, and even a highly-praised dog food brand, Rachael Ray Nutrish. So, if you’ve got a passion or a knack for something that fuels your soul, run with it just like Ray did!
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