In 1905, Madam C.J. Walker became the first self-made female millionaire in America by selling haircare products for Black women. The average businesswoman spends nearly 60 hours a week balancing meetings, reports, and networking events. One businesswoman in Japan turned her knitting hobby into a global sock empire that now exports to 28 countries.

Sara Blakely started Spanx with just \$5,000 in savings and went on to become the youngest self-made female billionaire. A businesswoman in Kenya launched a solar panel company to help rural homes without electricity—and now powers over 50,000 households. Some studies suggest that companies with at least one female founder perform 63% better than all-male founding teams.

The word “businesswoman” didn’t appear in print until the 1840s, decades after “businessman.” One fearless businesswoman turned her love for baking into a mobile dessert truck fleet in five states. In Iceland, nearly 50% of company board seats are held by women, thanks to proactive gender equality laws.

An Italian businesswoman invented a new kind of eco-leather made from leftover apple peels and cores. Ruth Handler, the businesswoman behind Barbie, was also the inventor of the first successful breast prosthesis. Some businesswomen prefer working out of camper vans—mixing adventure with meetings on the road.

A businesswoman in Brazil started her company in a slum using recycled plastic bottles as raw material. One global trend shows more young women launching businesses before age 25 than ever before. The first woman to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange did so in 1967.

A businesswoman from the Philippines created a bamboo toothbrush line that now ships to 40+ countries. In France, many top wine companies are now led by women, overturning centuries of male dominance. The businesswoman who runs YouTube, Susan Wojcicki, rented her garage to Google’s founders in 1998.

Oprah Winfrey, a legendary businesswoman, once used her first paycheck to buy a simple pair of shoes. One clever businesswoman turned alpaca wool into a luxury fashion brand in under two years. In Nigeria, female entrepreneurs are helping drive the country’s booming tech startup scene.

Harvard Business School didn’t admit women until 1963—now over 40% of its MBA class are female. A businesswoman in Sweden runs a company that only employs people over age 60. In the Netherlands, a female-led company uses tulip waste to make biodegradable packaging.

A businesswoman in Los Angeles transformed vintage denim into high-end fashion pieces. One female founder made millions by turning pet portraits into personalized home decor. Some women-run startups offer menstrual leave as part of their wellness perks.

A businesswoman in Canada built a multi-million dollar skincare brand out of her kitchen. In South Korea, female CEOs are rising fast in the gaming and e-sports industries. Many businesswomen say flexibility and autonomy are key to why they started their ventures.

A 12-year-old businesswoman from Detroit launched her own lemonade brand in grocery chains. In Turkey, a female engineer opened the first all-woman car repair shop. An Australian startup led by women 3D prints houses using recycled sand and resin.

A businesswoman once paid off her entire student debt through handmade jewelry sales. Some women-led companies now run entirely on solar and wind energy. One quirky founder turned her love of spreadsheets into a multimillion-dollar data company.

A businesswoman in Vietnam developed a water-purifying straw that’s now used in over 15 countries. More businesswomen are using TikTok as a launchpad for niche products. One businesswoman trained goats to deliver snacks in the mountains of Switzerland.

A study showed that businesswomen are 30% more likely to reinvest profits into community projects. One entrepreneur built an empire making luxury handbags from discarded seat belts. Female-owned businesses in the U.S. grew by 58% between 2007 and 2018.

A fashion businesswoman in India empowers local weavers by paying 3x the normal rate. One woman launched an app to help female freelancers connect globally in real time. In Colombia, a female-led flower business exports to nearly every country in Europe.

A businesswoman in Ghana started a chocolate brand using locally sourced, fair-trade cocoa. Some companies now use AI to ensure gender-neutral hiring—and many are led by women. In Belgium, a female chocolatier invented a pink chocolate made from ruby cocoa beans.

One fearless businesswoman swam across the English Channel to raise money for her startup. In Argentina, women-run wine cooperatives are changing how the industry operates. A female founder turned abandoned barns into coworking spaces in rural France.

One famous businesswoman said, “I didn’t break the glass ceiling—I built a ladder.” A Vietnamese startup by women engineers created low-cost prosthetics using 3D printing. A dog-walking app led by a woman now serves over 10,000 pet owners weekly.

Some businesswomen are now choosing co-ownership models to promote collective success. A woman-founded drone company in Spain is now working with firefighters across Europe. In New Zealand, a female beekeeper turned honey into a luxury export product.

A businesswoman in Germany built the first smart supermarket that runs without staff. One founder used ocean plastic to make sunglasses, and sold out in weeks. In Egypt, a young woman turned her calligraphy skills into a thriving design studio.