There’s no denying the fact there are countless incredible women out there making waves and achieving great things. We might even know some of these inspiring women entrepreneurs personally.
Putting together a list of female founders who have broken barriers was challenging. Yet, it’s truly remarkable what these exceptional women (and many others) have accomplished in an industry that hasn’t always been welcoming of women.
So, without further ado, here’s a simplified compilation of some of the world’s top female founders today.
1. Huda Kattan
Age: 39
Company: Huda Beauty
Net Worth: $570 Million
Huda Kattan is solely responsible for revolutionizing the makeup industry. In 2020, she was denoted as one of America’s Richest Self-Made Business Women by Forbes. Owing to her large beauty empire, it is almost criminal not to include her in the list of top female entrepreneurs of this decade.
She quit her financing job in Dubai to work as a freelance makeup artist. But what you probably do not know is that she began Huda Beauty with a single product- synthetic and faux minx eyelashes. Her empire exploded when her products became the go-to for Kim Kardashian. Yes, you read that right!
She is a strong businesswoman, and her business acumen is the reason she is the reigning queen of skincare and the makeup industry.
Beauty moguls Kim Kardashian and Huda Kattan, center, flanked by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, far left, and vice president of Huda Beauty, Moda Kattan, far right.
2. Beatrice Dixon
Age: 40
Company: The Honey Pot Company
Beatrice Dixon created The Honey Pot Company in 2014 as the world’s first plant-based feminine care company, with a meager $21,000 loan. The Honey Pot Company’s clinically tested and gynecologist-approved products have been featured and lauded in notable media outlets such as Essence, Forbes, Vogue, and Marie Claire, to name a few.
The Honey Pot Company also has a resounding 385k followers on Instagram. Today, the company’s products can be found online and in stores nationwide at Target, Walmart, CVS, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Whole Foods, among other retailers.
Dixon was one of the first 40 women of color to raise one million dollars and is also a recipient of Sundial and Unilever’s multimillion-dollar New Voices Fund. Dixon continues to make a mark in the world of natural health and is definitely on our list of the top female entrepreneurs of the decade.
2. Annie Wojcicki
Age: 49
Company: 23andMe
Net Worth: $800 Million
Anne Wojcicki is the younger sibling of Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube. After being disillusioned by the Wall Street culture and its attitude towards healthcare, Wojcicki quit her job as a healthcare investment analyst to focus on research.
Today, she is known as the co-founder and CEO of 23andMe, an FDA-approved direct-to-consumer DNA testing company that allows individuals to test ancestry and health risks. Named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a normal human cell, Time Magazine named the company’s personal genome test kit Invention of the Year in 2008.
The company provides FDA-approved tests assessing risk from cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and certain cancers. It certainly puts Wojcicki as one of our most influential female entrepreneurs and on the Forbes list of the World’s Most Powerful Women.
Related: Branding 101: How to Develop an Effective Brand Book?
3. Cindy Mi
Age: 30
Company: VIPKid
Cindy Mi is the founder and CEO of VIPKid, an online teaching and education company. At 17, Mi dropped out of high school to found ABC English, a brick-and-mortar tutoring company, along with her uncle. In the early 2000s, realizing that these classes were expensive and facing a shortage of quality English tutors in some cities, she came up with the idea to create an online education company connecting paying students with tutors in the United States and Canada.
Also, she was in Forbes’ List of The Emergent 25 Asia’s Latest Star Businesswomen 2018. Furthermore, her efforts to educate the young populous earn her a spot on our list of top female entrepreneurs of the decade.
The Beijing-based company boasts an impressive 1,00,000 students and 90,000 teachers. The platform has an impressive student retention rate of 95%, and its classes brought in $2.6 billion in revenue from $300 million, awarding them #29 in Forbes World’s most innovative company list.
4. Geeta Aiyer
Age: 65
Company: Boston Common Asset Management
Geeta Aiyer is President and Founder of Boston Common Asset Management, a diverse, majority women- and employee-owned sustainable investor firm.
She is the driving force behind Boston Common Asset Management. As a founder and guiding light of this renowned firm, Geetha has made an indelible mark on the finance world and responsible investing.
With unwavering commitment and a passion for creating positive change, she has paved the way for a new paradigm in the investment industry. Geetha’s leadership has not only propelled Boston Common Asset Management to great heights but also established her as a trailblazer in integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into investment strategies.
In 2022, Geeta was honored with TiE Boston’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which celebrates entrepreneurs who have pushed the boundaries of what is possible.
With all these remarkable achievements, it is no wonder that Geetha Aiyer is the game-changing entrepreneur of the decade.
5. Mona Andrews
Company: Stay In the Game
Mona Andrews is an entrepreneur for the past 25 years. When Mona Andrews saw a common problem among professional women, she was inspired to start her company, Stay In The Game. While Mona had the flexibility to balance work and raising her two young children, she noticed that many other women do not enjoy the same options. They were forced to leave their jobs because their workplaces did not provide the necessary flexibility.
It led to companies losing experienced employees and hindered women’s professional advancement and ability to support their families. Determined to make a difference, Andrews founded Stay In The Game to help women overcome these obstacles and achieve their career goals.
With her passion project, she helped hundreds of women to thrive in their careers and family. Particularly during the first 10-12 years of caregiving, women require such flexibility.
This unique hit idea of Mona Andrews made her among the list of influential and game-changing women entrepreneurs of the decade.
Related: 9 Creative Branding Trends of 2023
6. Kiana Aran
Company: Cardea Bio, a biotechnology company
Kiana Aran is a true innovator and a driving force in the field of biomedical engineering. With her relentless passion for merging science and technology, Kiana has revolutionized the landscape of diagnostic testing.
As a brilliant researcher and entrepreneur, she has made groundbreaking advancements in the development of portable and accessible medical devices that are poised to transform healthcare as we know it.
Kiana’s pioneering work in bioelectronics and dedication to improving patient care have earned her widespread recognition and acclaim.
She found an entirely new type of semiconductor that responds to biometrics, which can be a revolutionary tool for early cancer detection.
With her cutting-edge inventions, explore the inspiring future she envisions for the intersection of biology and engineering Kiana is, of course, one of the top women entrepreneurs.
7. Laureen Asseo
Age: 28
Company: Fresh N Lean
Net Worth: $100Million
Laureen Asseo is an entrepreneurial force and a trailblazer in the food innovation world. With an unwavering passion for culinary creativity, Laureen has redefined the way we think about healthy and delicious plant-based options.
Laureen’s relentless dedication to crafting high-quality, sustainable products has not only earned her industry recognition but has also inspired a growing community of health-conscious individuals.
By providing organically sourced, ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to doorsteps across America, she not only satisfies appetites but also champions local farmers along the way.
Her revolution in the Food industry made her the top women entrepreneur of the decade with no further doubts.
In Conclusion (+ An Ultimate Free AI Tool For Entrepreneurs)
And there you have it! Our hand-picked selection of the world’s top female founders, and trust us, this is just the tip of the iceberg. These incredible women have not only defied expectations but have emerged triumphantly, shattering the notion that being a trailblazer comes with its fair share of setbacks.
Though the stories seem inspiring, being an entrepreneur and running a business is challenging. However, with the right tools and leveraging cutting-edge technology, you can tip the scales in your favor.
That is where Simplified comes in. Our platform empowers entrepreneurs like you to automate marketing processes, streamline operations, and save costs by consolidating multiple tools into one comprehensive solution.
With Simplified you can ideate, create stunning graphics and videos, write captivating content in minutes using the AI writer, and schedule posts so you can focus on other high-level tasks rather than managing your socials manually every day. Jussst perfect, right?
