15 Successful Women in Business Who Started Small

From trailblazers like Estée Lauder and Coco Chanel, to modern-day leaders like Indra Nooyi and Sophia Amoruso, women have been at the forefront of innovation and business success throughout history.

Despite facing systemic barriers and discrimination, women have continued to break through glass ceilings and pave the way for future generations.

Let’s explore and celebrate the stories and accomplishments of some of the most inspiring women entrepreneurs who left a lasting impact on the business world.

These are 15 of the most successful women in business history. Read on to learn where they started and how they differentiated themselves from others.

1. Madam C.J. Walker

This name might sound familiar as Netflix released a series based on her life titled Self Made.

Madam C.J. Walker was the first self-made millionaire in the United States. Born Sarah Breedlove in 1867, she created a line of hair care products specifically designed for Black women, which revolutionized the beauty industry.

Her products were not only effective, but they also empowered Black women to embrace their natural hair and take pride in their appearance. With a keen sense of marketing and business understanding, she built a vast network of sales agents who helped distribute her products to a wider audience.

Through hard work and determination, Madam C.J. Walker built an empire that not only created her own wealth, but also provided economic opportunities for thousands of other Black women.

Despite facing significant challenges as a Black woman in the early 20th century, Madam C.J. Walker’s unwavering determination and entrepreneurial spirit allowed her to achieve remarkable success. She not only shattered gender and racial barriers, but also used her wealth and influence to support various philanthropic causes. From funding scholarships to supporting the NAACP, Madam C.J. Walker’s legacy extends far beyond her business achievements.

Her story is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women and people of color, who continue to face systemic barriers in the business world today.

2. Mary Kay Ash

Looking to create a business that would empower women, Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay Cosmetics in 1963 with a $5,000 investment. Her philosophy of putting people first, recognizing and celebrating the achievements of others, and giving back to the community allowed her to build a successful brand that still thrives today.

Ash’s leadership style inspired her sales force of beauty consultants to achieve their goals, and her business model provided them with opportunities for financial independence and personal growth. Her commitment to women’s empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit made her an icon in business.

Thanks to her innovative approach, Mary Kay Ash became one of the most successful female entrepreneurs of her time. She received numerous awards, including the Horatio Alger Award, which recognizes individuals who have overcome adversity and achieved success.

With innumerable consultants still making sales today, it’s clear that Mary Kay Ash’s legacy continues to inspire women worldwide to pursue their dreams and make a difference in their communities.

3. Sara Blakely

Sara Blakely is another shining example of a successful female entrepreneur with just $5,000 and a dream. Blakely is the founder and CEO of Spanx, a clothing company specializing in shapewear and leggings. Her journey to success began in 2000 when she launched Spanx, a shapewear company for women.

After failing to give up when she struggled to get her products into stores, Blakely landed a deal with Neiman Marcus, which became a game-changer for her business.

Today, Spanx is a global brand that has sold millions of products and generates about 75$ million in revenue each year.

Blakely’s success can be attributed to her innovative product design, tenacity in the face of rejection, and ability to create a brand that resonates with consumers globally.

She has also been a champion for female entrepreneurship and philanthropy, using her success to support other American businesswomen and to give back to her community.

4. Peggy Cherng

In 1973, Peggy Cherng was an engineering student at the University of Missouri. At the same time, her father and husband purchased Panda Inn, a Chinese restaurant in Pasadena, California.

After helping out on weekends, Peggy stepped away from building CAT scan machines and battle simulators for the Navy to handle the company’s business end. She built one of the first point-of-sales systems, and innovated training and recruitment processes at the restaurant. She also tracked inventory on computers and collected customer reviews to improve operations.

In the 1980s, Panda Express made its first appearance in a mall food court. A mall developer had eaten at the Panda Inn and thought it would be a good spot for the Cherngs to expand their business. The move was incredibly successful and helped propel Cherng to become the company’s president in 1997.

According to Panda Express, the company generates about $3 billion in sales. It has over 2,000 locations worldwide and is “the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in America.”

5. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah became a household name after co-anchoring the evening news at 19 and going on to create a media empire. Her story is a testament to what is possible when you are willing to take risks, work hard, and never give up.

After moving to Chicago and turning a failing talk show into a national phenomenon, she created her own production company, Harpo Productions, which includes television, film, publishing, and even a cable network. She then launched her own magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine. O rakes in a hefty $25-$50 million per year due to her diversified media companies.

Successful Female Entrepreneurs

Below are five female entrepreneurs who started small and grew their companies into household names.

6. Whitney Wolfe Herd

Let’s shake up this list with a woman who kicked down the door in a male-dominated field: tech. Even if you don’t know her name (yet), you surely have heard of (and maybe joined) a few of her apps.

Whitney Wolfe Herd co-founded Tinder, the popular dating app, before leaving to start her own company, Bumble.

With Bumble, she created a platform that empowers women by giving them control over initiating conversations where they match with men. Her innovative approach to online dating has made Bumble a household name, and the company is now valued at over $2 billion.

Wolfe Herd’s success has not gone unnoticed. In 2018, she was recognized as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2017 and 2018.

Wolfe Herd’s success extends beyond Bumble. She has also become a prominent voice in the tech industry, advocating for gender equality and women’s rights. She has spoken out against sexual harassment and discrimination and has taken action to ensure that Bumble’s workplace culture is inclusive and supportive of all employees.

Wolfe Herd’s leadership has set an example for other female entrepreneurs, showing that it’s possible to succeed in a male-dominated industry through hard work, innovation, and a commitment to social responsibility.

7. Emily Weiss

Emily Weiss is the founder and former CEO of Glossier, a cosmetics company launched in 2014. But, before Glossier was even a company, it was Into the Gloss, a popular blog that published interviews with beauty influencers and honest reviews of their products.

By 2013, Weiss’s blog had over 2 million monthly readers, 60% of whom went directly to her website to read her content. Her readers didn’t come from online ads or purchased email lists; they were hooked on her blog posts and wanted to check out the next thing she would publish.

In 2014, Weiss launched Glossier, which advertised directly on Into the Gloss. Soon, Glossier began to eclipse Into the Gloss. With the rise of social media sites like Instagram and TikTok, Weiss saw an opportunity to shift the brands to social media.

Today, Into the Gloss has over a million followers on Instagram, and Glossier generates about $75 million in sales. Not bad for a 25-year-old intern who decided to buy a used camera for a couple of hundred bucks.

8. Ellen Latham

Ellen Latham is the founder of Orangetheory Fitness, a fitness club that was established in 2010 and has over 1,500 locations across the U.S.

Latham began her career as a physiologist. At 40, she had her dream job at a high-end spa in Miami. Then, things took a turn when she was fired and forced to move on.

Latham was resilient. She launched a very successful Pilates studio called Ellen’s Ultimate Workout, which catalyzed her business today. After building a loyal following in her Ft. Lauderdale community, she met her business partner Jerome Kern, and together they opened the first Orangetheory.

Orangetheory Fitness now generates approximately $1 million in revenue each year.

9. Lisa Price

Lisa Price started Carol’s Daughter in Brooklyn, NY, in 1993. She sold haircare products that catered to various hair textures and curl types at flea markets and festivals, eventually opening her first boutique in 1999.

In 2000, Price’s company was one of the first haircare brands to sell directly to consumers. In 2002, she appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to promote her line of products.

Like many brands that appear on Oprah, Carol’s Daughter took off with success. It brought in over $2 million in sales and helped Price open a new store in Harlem in 2005. Carol’s Daughter was also featured on the Home Shopping Network and Target before being acquired in 2014 by L’Oreal USA.

10. Vera Wang

Vera Wang is one of the most successful business women from the 90s. Before she was designing bridal wear, she was one of the youngest editors to work at Vogue magazine. From there, she went on to work for Ralph Lauren before leaving the company to start her career as a bridal designer.

Her business opened in New York in 1990, and by 1993, she had been working with celebrities like Mariah Carey. Wang would also design attire for Gwen Stefani, Ariana Grande, and figure skater Nancy Kerrigan for the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Games.

Wang’s success extended beyond just bridal wear. She’s crafted gowns for red-carpet events, costumes for figure skaters, and, eventually, casual “ready-to-wear” clothing featured in TV series like “Sex and the City.”

The Vera Wang brand generates about $74 million each year, and Vera Wang is considered to be one the richest, self-made women in the world.

Business Women & Entrepreneurs From This Year (2025)

These business women and female entrepreneurs are quickly rising to the top of their industries. Read on to learn about three of the top businesswomen from 2025. 

11. Amira Rasool

Amira Rasool is the CEO and Founder of The Folklore, a commerce solution that helps small brands create digital storefronts and sell products online. Her company works mostly with Black-owned businesses and African-based fashion and retail brands.

Rasool started her brand with a $30K investment and has raised over $6 million in funding for her startup since 2018. She was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2024 and is among the youngest Black women to raise over $1 million in pre-seed funding. 

Today, The Folklore supports over 700 brands and includes a retail shop where customers can buy local products. Rasool wants to “invest in building Africa’s economy” and believes that brands like hers can help fuel African economies by increasing exports and production.

12. Fungai Ndemera

Fungai Ndemera is a female health tech entrepreneur and business mentor for leaders in the healthcare industry. She’s the founder of CheckUp Health, a software that supports healthcare providers with consultations and prescription writing.

Ndemera has won several awards for her work in business development, healthcare, and tech. In 2025, the African Business Chamber named her one of the Top 100 African Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders in the UK. 

Ndemera is also very active on YouTube and social media. Her YouTube channel is filled with exclusive interviews with business leaders and entrepreneurs who share their success stories and advice. She also has case studies on her website and writes blogs about topics like AI, business growth, and tech trends. 

13. Ximena Garcia

Ximena Garcia founded Shamanflora, a plant-based healing center in Peru. She originally worked for brands like Slack and Salesforce, but found her passion for personal growth and created a space where people can overcome challenges like depression and anxiety.

Garcia purchased Shamanflora in 2020 after visiting the retreat earlier that year. She rebranded the company and combined ancient traditions from the Amazon Rainforest with modern luxuries. Her healing center is world-renowned and recognized as one of the best retreats in Peru. 

 Garcia hosts a weekly podcast in which she talks about her experience, interviews guests, and explores thought-provoking discussions. It’s a wholesome and spiritual conversation that centers around personal development. 

Exclusive: Business Women From Thryv

Thryv employs plenty of amazing women who make a huge impact on our company and customers. From leading teams to driving growth, here are a few business women from Thryv and what small business owners can learn from them.

14. Jill Shaw

Jill Shaw is the Senior Director of Content and Creative at Thryv. She joined our company in 2025 when we acquired Keap, where she was leading creative campaigns for a growing SaaS company. Before that, she was a small business owner. She managed a small photography company, taking photos of weddings, families, and special celebrations.

I asked Jill about her proudest moment as a business leader, and she told me she loves watching her team grow. “Whether it’s watching them tackle a project that scares them or watching them elevate into new roles, it makes [her] really proud to help them through those moments and watch them accomplish big things.”

15. Kathi Palminteri

Kathi Palminteri is our Global Marketing Executive at Thryv. She has countless stories to share from her exciting career in media, including her time as a Vice President at MTV, Executive Director at Turner Broadcasting Systems, Marketing Director for the Howard Stern show, and Head of Consumer Experience at Avo.

When I asked Kathi about her career, she told me it was “particularly positive.” She said, “The media industry has provided a supportive environment where women’s contributions are valued and encouraged. This balance has allowed me to collaborate effectively with colleagues of all genders, fostering a culture of mutual respect and growth.” 

Women in Business: Statistics

I mentioned earlier that women have been at the center of business innovation. Here are a few stats to back that up:

• Women-owned businesses in the U.S. generate more than $2 trillion in total sales each year.
• Women-owned businesses employ over 9.4 million workers.
• Women in the United States own 42% of small businesses.
• Revenue growth for women-owned businesses increased by 27% between 2019 and 2023.
• There are nearly 40,000 women-owned businesses with 50+ employees.

Related Article: READY TO MAKE HISTORY? 6 RESOURCES FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

Recognizing Women in Business

Needless to say, women entrepreneurs have made significant contributions to the business world and continue paving the way for future generations of women to follow in their footsteps.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us not forget the remarkable achievements of groundbreaking women and continue to support and empower other women in entrepreneurship. Doing so can create a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

If you’re looking to start making your own history, we’re here to help. Check out The Guide to Running an Efficient Small Business for the practical tips and expert advice you’ll need to organize your business, boost efficiency, and get one step closer to achieving the success of the women entrepreneurs who came before you.