They’re women of substance, and they proved that women can be better at making money. Any doubts? Meet the most esteemed women entrepreneurs and you shall have no question thereafter.
Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition. ~ Timothy Leary
For I don’t know how many times have I read this quote and believed it’s anything but a lie, it seems like there do exist individuals in this world who think women are followers, not leaders. Did they ever go through the stats? About 50 percent of all businesses in the United States of America are owned by women, and this figure is increasing at a rate you can’t even imagine. In my mother, I see an image of what the world’s most famous women entrepreneurs are like. They’re smart, confident, decisive, and definitely able to lead. Ah, it’s an ongoing debate as to who is a better leader – males or females? While it’s next to impossible for me to put forth a cogent answer to that, it’s possible for me to shell out some information on those women of substance that will get you hangover, by the time you’re done reading! Hangover? Well, yes, thanks to the high dosages of inspiration they provide you! So, let’s flip through the pages of history, and talk about those women who transformed the world of entrepreneurship with their talent and innovativeness. Here’s to the women who were born to rule, not follow.
World Famous Women Entrepreneurs
They’re inspirational, no doubt about it. However, they’re inspirational because of how they got here, and not because of what they are now. While you may disagree a lot on my choices throughout this think piece, they’re what I believe transformed the way the world looks at women entrepreneurship. You’ll find quite a number of self-made women dedicated to the cosmetic business here. So, here go the names of the most famous women with power.
Estee Lauder (1906 – 2004)
Known For: Makeup and Skin Care
Famous Words: If you don’t sell, it’s not the product that’s wrong, it’s you.
Recognized as one of the 20 most prestigious business moguls of the 20th century by the Time magazine’s 1998 compilation, Estee Lauder was a co-founder of Estee Lauder Companies, and shot to fame with her range of rich class cosmetics – makeup, skin care, and perfumes. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and her name was established into the Junior Achievement US Business Hall of Fame. She taught the world how to sell cosmetics, and nailed it right! Often regarded as the ‘Beauty Queen’, she introduced the mantra ‘think globally, act locally’, which marked the success of this wonder woman.
Mary Kay Ash (1918 – 2001)
Known For: Makeup and Skin Care
Famous Words: If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right.
Having believed in the rule – it’s important to make the other person feel important – this wonder entrepreneur founded Mary Kay Cosmetics, and christened herself as the Most Outstanding Woman in Business in the 20th Century. When she said ‘God first, family second, career third’, people believed that women can keep their life balanced, and need not forget the other two in their pursuit of a flourishing career. Like Estee Lauder, Mary Kay too was seated into the Junior Achievement US Business Hall of Fame in the year 1996, with her company, Mary Kay Inc. being recognized as one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work for in America’. She suffered a stroke in 1996, and the year 2001 marked her decease.
Oprah Winfrey (1954 – Present)
Known For: The Oprah Winfrey Talk Show
Famous Words: Turn your wounds into wisdom.
For a while, she enjoyed the position of being the world’s only black billionaire! Oprah Gail Winfrey is recognized as one of the most influential women in the world, thanks to her immensely popular talk show – The Oprah Winfrey Show. Even though being born in a rural poor family, she carved her niche in the entertainment industry, and furthered a third-rated local talk show to the first place. Today, this famous black woman entrepreneur has her own production company, a magazine on her name (O, The Oprah Magazine), and is recognized for being the richest African-American of the 20th Century. Her wounds did become her wisdom, and she passionately overcame her pains to become one of the most talked about women entrepreneurs today.
J. K. Rowling (1965 – Present)
Known For: The Harry Potter Fantasy Series
Famous Words: If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.
If you talk about ‘rags to riches’, you can’t afford to miss out on mentioning the name of Joanne ‘Jo’ Rowling, the author of the phenomenon called ‘Harry Potter’ books. Sold more than 400 million copies, won multiple awards for her work, and got recognized as the 12th richest woman in Great Britain! She was a runner-up for 2007’s Time Magazine’s Person of the Year choice, and was ranked 48th on Forbes list of most powerful celebrities in 2007. The idea of writing the Harry Potter books came to her during her journey from Manchester to London in 1990, and it took her good 11 years to realize her dreams. Well, the result of her hard work displays and how!
Anita Roddick (1942 – 2007)
Known For: ‘The Body Shop’ Cosmetics Company
Famous Words: If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.
Founder of the much acknowledged cosmetic brand, The Body Shop, Anita Roddick plays a number of roles. She is a human rights activist, an environmental campaigner, and fights against the usage of animals for testing. What shot her to fame was her recognition by Queen Elizabeth II, who appointed Anita Roddick a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. It was her endless efforts that The Body Shop has a reputation of supporting social and environmental causes today, the reason being the fact that she owned a strong personal sense of responsibility towards the environment. The endless list of awards in her hands today underline her success better than anything else.
A large number of women entrepreneurs became more memorable for the world with their contribution. They personify success in their own ways, and have made it large. Here are a few more names of some prominent women who shattered the myth that entrepreneurship is a male-dominated pursuit:
Name | Known For |
Jenna Jameson | Founder of the adult-entertainment company, ClubJenna |
Coco Chanel | Founder of Cosmetic Brand Chanel |
Madam C.J. Walker | Beauty and Hair Care under the name of Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company |
Debbi Fields | Founder and Spokesperson of Mrs. Fields Bakeries |
Stella McCartney | Fashion Designing |
Tyra Banks | Creator of Top-Rated Television Shows |
Deborah Meaden | Television Series Dragons’ Den |
Ruth Handler | Creator of Barbie Doll |
You know, they defined success by redefining it their way. They’re famous because they had the power to shape their destiny, which boggles the minds of all who learn about them. And if the endless struggles they saw in life don’t shake you from within, nothing else can.