One thing that I absolutely adore about the modern economy is that it’s not bound to gender. Many women have made a mark in the business industry with their skills and talents. For all women everywhere, they have become icons of motivation and shown that everyone can lead and be successful.
The remarkable business women are providing services from technology and media to beauty and biotechnology while proving that success knows no boundaries. Their stories of innovation, perseverance, and strategic thinking offer valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.
If you’re looking for the 10 most successful business women in the world, you are at the right spot. Here, I am going to talk about the top women you should know about.
Top 10 Successful Business Women in the World
1. Sheryl Sandberg
2. Selena Gomez
3. Julie Sweet
4. Melanie Perkins
5. Arianna Huffington
6. Katrina Lake
7. Anne Wojcicki
8. Rihanna
9. Emily Weiss
10. Oprah Winfrey
1. Sheryl Sandberg
- Net Worth: $2.1 billion
- Industry: Technology
- Key Achievement: Former COO of Meta (Facebook)
Let’s begin by discussing a popular woman in the business world, Sheryl Sandberg. She’s a tech giant who has worked as a sales executive at Google. However, she’s most popularly known as the former COO of Meta.
Sheryl helped the company a lot in becoming a global icon, especially by making its advertising model very efficient. She’s also the author of the bestselling book Lean In. It encourages women around the world to pursue big leadership roles.
2. Selena Gomez
- Net Worth: $1 billion
- Industry: Beauty & entertainment
- Key Achievement: Founder of Rare Beauty
You may know Selena Gomez from her popular songs or ex-girlfriend of pop star Justin Bieber. But did you know she’s also a very successful businesswoman? Besides being a singer and a producer, Selena has made a mark in the business world as well.
Most of her income comes from her beauty brand called “Rare Beauty”. Her business products are completely vegan and cruelty-free. It makes their consumers feel good while using them. Selena’s top priority has always been to make an impact with her products instead of earning money.
3. Julie Sweet
- Net Worth: $75 million
- Industry: Technology
- Key Achievement: CEO of Accenture
Julie Sweet is another one of the most successful businesswomen in the world. She’s made an impact in the tech industry as well. Julie is the CEO of Accenture, which is a leading services company.
She started at Accenture as General Counsel and then made her way to becoming the Chair. Julie was the first woman to hold this role, which is pretty impressive for aspiring women from around the world.
4. Melanie Perkins
- Net Worth: $5.8 billion
- Industry: Technology & design
- Key Achievement: Co-founder and CEO of Canva
The world of graphic design may not have been the same as it is today if it weren’t for Melanie Perkins. She’s the co-founder of one of the most popular design software Canva. At the age of just 19, Melanie conceptualized and then designed Canva to make it available for the rest of the world.
She was teaching design programs at a university when she had the inspiration. She realized that designing could be easier and more accessible for people. So, she designed and launched Canva. It is a freemium and beginner-friendly design software solution.
5. Arianna Huffington
- Net Worth: $100 million
- Industry: Media & Wellness
- Key Achievement: Founder of The Huffington Post and Thrive Global
Arianna Huffington is a Greek-American journalist who launched a liberal news blog called the Huffington Post. This blog soon became insanely popular and was sold to AOL.
After stepping down from journalism, Arianna started focusing on well-being and productivity. That’s when she founded Thrive Global.
It is a wellness startup that promotes the importance of the connection between well-being and productivity. Arianna has also authored many bestselling books. So, it all makes her the most successful business woman in the world.
6. Katrina Lake
- Net Worth: $200 million
- Industry: Technology & e-commerce
- Key Achievement: Founder of Stitch Fix
Katrina Lake is another most successful businesswoman in the world and the founder of Stitch Fix, which is an online personalized styling service. This service helps people find their style and dress in a way that suits them the most. She launched this service from her apartment in Cambridge.
Soon, the service became insanely popular, helping Katrina generate a lot of money. Later on, she became the youngest woman to take a company public when Stitch Fix was listed on NASDAQ. Currently, the service has millions of clients and is one of the most successful e-commerce companies.
7. Anne Wojcicki
- Net Worth: $270 million
- Industry: Biotechnology & Personal Genomics
- Key Achievement: Co-founder and CEO of 23andMe
Another businesswoman who has completely changed the world of genetics is Anne Wojcicki. She is the co-founder of the well-known genetics firm “23andMe“. It is a business that has totally transformed access to genetic information for individuals.
The business offers a cheap home genetics test kit. This kit lets people learn specifics about their ancestors and any possible disease they could carry. This service has not only helped people know who their ancestors were, but it has also facilitated more personalized and better medications.
8. Rihanna
- Net Worth: $1.4 billion
- Industry: Beauty & Fashion
- Key Achievement: Founder of Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty
Rihanna is a successful celebrity known for her singing talent. She’s also a successful businesswoman and has a huge brand, “Fenty Beauty”. It is a cosmetic brand that offers an extensive range of product shades.
The company started bringing in significant money and quickly gained considerable fame. Following this success, Rihanna diversified her business portfolio and introduced other brands, including Fenty Hair and Fenty Skin.
9. Emily Weiss
- Net Worth: $1.8 billion
- Industry: Beauty
- Key Achievement: Founder of Glossier
Emily Weiss is a perfect illustration of how following your passion might let you become enormously famous. Glossair, one of the most well-known beauty companies in the world, was founded and ran by her as CEO; she has since stepped down.
Emily’s story is particularly fascinating since it all started with one beauty blog. Emily used to post product reviews and celebrity interviews on her website, “Into the Gloss.“
It gathered a huge fanbase and inspired Emily to start his own brand. So, Emily launched Glossair, which is now a billion-dollar brand and is mainly known for its simplicity.
10. Oprah Winfrey
- Net Worth: $3.1 billion
- Industry: Media & entertainment
- Key Achievement: Media mogul and philanthropist
Last but not least, Oprah Winfrey is among the most successful businesswomen in the world. She began her career as a news anchor, then later started her own talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show”.
It went on for 25 years and became among the most highly rated talk shows ever. She established her own company, Harpo Productions, over her career.
Oprah started a television network, “OWN,” via this company, which allowed her to become much more successful. She is now among the wealthiest and most influential women in the media business.
How to Become a Successful Businesswoman?
Learning from these remarkable leaders, here are the key strategies and principles that can help aspiring businesswomen to achieve success. Further, these ideas can lead you towards the development of a solid business.
1. Identify and Solve Real Problems
Find Market Gaps: Like Melanie Perkins identifying the need for accessible design tools, successful businesswomen spot underserved markets and create solutions that truly matter to people.
2. Utilize Your Unique Perspective
Use Your Background: Rihanna’s experience as a woman of color helped her create inclusive beauty products. Your unique experiences and challenges can become your competitive advantage in the market.
3. Build Strong Networks and Mentorship
Seek Guidance: Many successful businesswomen credit mentors and strong professional networks for their growth. Actively build relationships within your industry and beyond.
4. Use Technology and Innovation
Stay Current: From Sheryl Sandberg’s digital advertising expertise to Katrina Lake’s algorithm-based styling, technology integration has become a crucial need for the modern businesses.
5. Focus on Business Models Purpose
Create Impact: Businesses that solve social problems or create positive change tend to build stronger customer loyalty and long-term success.
6. Develop Financial Literacy and Business Acumen
Master the Numbers: Understanding finance, market analysis, and business strategy is essential. Invest time in learning these core business skills for better understanding.
7. Build Resilience and Persistence
Overcome Rejection: Many of these women faced multiple rejections before achieving success. So, you need to develop thick skin and learn from failures rather than being defeated by them.
8. Start Small and Scale Strategically
Begin Where You Are: Emily Weiss started with a blog, Katrina Lake began in her apartment. You don’t need massive capital to start, focus on proving your concept first.
9. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership
Invest in People: Successful businesswomen understand that great teams drive great results. Focus on hiring well and developing strong leadership skills.
10. Maintain Work-Life Integration
Sustainable Success: Learn from leaders like Arianna Huffington who advocate for wellness and avoiding burnout while building successful businesses.
Key Action Steps:
👉 Develop a clear business plan with measurable goals.
👉 Build your personal brand and online presence.
👉 Seek funding opportunities specifically available for women entrepreneurs.
👉 Join women-focused business organizations and accelerators.
👉 Continuously educate yourself through courses, books, and industry events.
The Summary
Well, there you have it. Business isn’t something that’s bound by gender. There are dozens of successful businesswomen around the world who have proven this fact. These women are known for their way of living, leading, and making an impact on society with their skills and talents.
The discussed personalities are some of the top names in this regard. They have created companies providing consumers with excellent goods and services. These businesswomen show how hard work and motivation can enable anyone to achieve success.
Their stories continue to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs. These females businesswomen stories are full of passion, perseverance, and the right strategy, anyone can build a successful business empire by following these.
People Also Ask
1. Who is the Most Successful Businesswoman?
There are several successful businesswomen in the world who deserve the top spot like Oprah Winfrey, Sheryl Sandberg, and Melanie Perkins.
2. Who are 2 of The Most Successful Businesswomen?
2 of the most successful businesswomen in the world are Oprah Winfrey and Melanie Perkins.
3. Why is Rihanna so Popular?
Rihanna is renowned for her powerful voice and success as a singer, as well as her achievements as a businesswoman with multiple beauty brands.
4. What is Oprah Winfrey Most Famous For?
She’s most famous for her TV show “The Oprah Winfrey Show”.
