In celebration of International Women's Day, we're highlighting 7 inspiring women entrepreneurs who made it big.


These women - from across the creative and marketing industries - have achieved amazing things and are great role models for future entrepreneurs. Whether you're a business owner looking to grow your company, or an aspiring entrepreneur considering your next move, read on for some inspiration from these game-changers. And be sure to check out the resources at the end of this post for more support if you're a woman in business.  

"Women have achieved incredible success in the business world, but there are still more barriers to break down," - Melinda Gates

Women in the creative and marketing industry have been agile champions of progress and innovation, showing remarkable courage and dedication to their craft. Despite strong achievements, it's important to recognize that there is still more work to be done in terms of gender equality in this field. We celebrate International Women’s Day as a call-to-action to amplify the importance of supporting organizations and initiatives which advocate for women’s rights, while also providing resources and access to opportunities that empower female creatives. Let us use this day as an opportunity to applaud the incredible progress made by women in the marketing world and continue our collective stride towards equality within the industry.

Oprah Winfrey

Endlessly inspiring, Oprah Winfrey is an iconic figure of success. From launching her own talk show in 1986 and conquering the world as a household name to becoming a bona fide business mogul with successful investments spanning media production, publishing, and retailing; she has made being an entrepreneur look effortless. With her OWN network winning its first Emmy Award in 2013 along with other ventures such as Weight Watchers and True Food Kitchen making waves - it's no wonder millions worldwide have been so inspired by this courageous Queen of Business!

 

Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington continues to inspire entrepreneurs everywhere. Despite the odds, she launched The Huffington Post in 2005 and saw it rapidly become one of the most widely read news sites worldwide with over 1 billion monthly readers by 2012. Furthering her commitment to wellness and self-care, Arianna stepped down from being editor-in-chief in 2016 so that she could create Thrive Global - a company dedicated to helping people reduce stress levels through lifestyle changes and mindfulness practices.

Sara Blakely

An empowering model for female entrepreneurs who have the courage to take risks and chase their dreams is Sara Blakely. In 2000, she launched Spanx with her revolutionary idea of slimming shapewear – a concept that has since become ubiquitous in women's fashion around the world! Her willingness to go against conventional wisdom resulted in unparalleled success; proving it pays off when you think outside-the-box and are driven by your passion.

 

Sheryl Sandberg  

Sheryl Sandberg is a prime example of what entrepreneurial success can look like when you combine ambition, hard work, and determination. She joined Facebook in 2008 as its COO and was quickly able to implement effective management practices that led the social network into becoming one of the most prolific software companies around today. Her impact doesn't just stop there. By writing two best-selling books, Lean In (2013) and Option B (2017), she has become an inspirational figure for many people who now wish to pursue their own dream projects or businesses.

Ursula Burns

Shattering barriers for young female entrepreneurs around the world, Ursula Burns was appointed CEO of Xerox Corporation in 2009, making her not only the first African American female to lead a Fortune 500 company, but one of corporate America's most influential leaders. Under her leadership, Xerox achieved record-breaking success. Profit and revenue skyrocketed while customer satisfaction rose alongside groundbreaking products like digital color printing services. Her illustrious tenure proves that with ambition and innovation extraordinary feats are achievable – regardless of gender or race!

 

Indra Nooyi  

Indra Nooyi has revolutionized the food and beverage industry with her remarkable tenure as an Indian American entrepreneur and Chairman and CEO at PepsiCo. After 12 years of unparalleled success, she stepped down to focus on giving back through philanthropic initiatives such as empowering women to reach their fullest potential via education and training programs for nonprofits like CARE USA and UNCDF India Women's Livelihood Bond (WLB). Her inspiring story shows how believing in yourself results in positive change that our society needs now more than ever!

Meg Whitman  

An extraordinary business leader and trailblazer, Meg Whitman has achieved success at some of the world's most iconic organizations including CEO of eBay to Chairman, CEO at HP, and a board member of Hasbro, Meg puts her indelible stamp on each role she takes up. Her philanthropic efforts extend beyond this professional domain. She also served two terms as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s finance chair before running herself unsuccessfully for Governor during California’s 2010 elections season against Jerry Brown, which she lost despite spending well over $140 million dollars USD of her own money on campaigning efforts throughout the race.

"The future of the world depends on the freedom of the daughter." - Malala Yousafzai

Organizations and initiatives that support women entrepreneurs:  

As we take time to celebrate women's achievements in the creative and marketing industries on International Women's Day, it is also important to recognize the organizations or initiatives that support women's causes. For those wishing to make their mark in these fields, there are plenty of amazing resources available for both education and inspiration.  

The Creative Equals program provides a database full of networking opportunities, grants, events, mentorship programs, internships, and so much more.  

Supporting women in the creative industry worldwide, The Female Quotient is another worthy initiative that provides an online resource hub filled with inspiring stories by successful bloggers and entrepreneurs.

Organizations such as She Runs It provide scholarships that enable more young women to access higher education and gain invaluable experience and skills.  

We should all take a moment to appreciate the organizations and initiatives that are contributing significantly towards creating a better future for young women everywhere.

"Women bring a different perspective to the business world which is hugely beneficial, and one that should be celebrated," - Kathryn Finney

On International Women's Day, we honor and celebrate the many amazing women who have changed their respective industries for the better. These extraordinary women have shown us that anything is possible if you just reach out and put in the hard work. We hope that this post has inspired you to pursue your passions and seize any opportunities that come your way. Organizations and various other scholarships, internships, and mentorship programs are a great place to start.  

So today, let's recognize everything these incredible women have accomplished and take on new challenges with determination. If your business needs help succeeding in its goals, don't forget to reach out to our agency, Ideatech Creatives, for all your creative needs! As we come together to support women during this joyous day of celebration, we encourage readers everywhere to join in on the festivities by sharing their own stories of success!

Schedule A Free Consultation
Back TO blogs