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Top 10 most inspiring women in business

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By Praveen KumarPublished about a year ago 10 min read
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Top 10 most inspiring women in business
Photo by Phạm Duy Quang on Unsplash

Oprah Winfrey: Media mogul and philanthropist

Oprah Winfrey is a media mogul, philanthropist, and one of the most influential and inspiring women in business. She rose to fame as the host of the long-running talk show "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which ran from 1986 to 2011. During her time on the show, Winfrey built a reputation as a powerful and inspiring figure, using her platform to speak about important issues such as poverty, education, and women's rights. In addition to her work on television, Winfrey is also a successful businesswoman, having launched her own production company, Harpo Productions, and co-founded the cable network, Oxygen. She also owns a number of other businesses and has made successful investments in various companies. Winfrey is also a philanthropist, having donated millions of dollars to various charitable causes through her foundation, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation.

Melinda Gates: Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Melinda Gates is an American philanthropist, businesswoman, and the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband Bill Gates in 2000. The foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the world and works to improve the lives of people in developing countries through initiatives in areas such as healthcare and education.

Before joining the foundation, Melinda Gates had a successful career in business, working as a product manager for Microsoft for several years. Her experience in the tech industry helped her bring a strategic and data-driven approach to philanthropy. As co-chair of the foundation, she focuses on issues such as global health and reducing extreme poverty, with a particular emphasis on empowering women and girls.

Gates is also actively involved in advocacy and policy work, both in the United States and internationally, to promote issues such as family planning and access to healthcare. She also serves on the boards of several organizations and is a frequent public speaker on issues related to philanthropy and global development.

Sheryl Sandberg: COO of Facebook and author of "Lean In"

Sheryl Sandberg is an American businesswoman and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook. She joined the company in 2008 and has played a key role in its growth and development, particularly in areas such as advertising and mobile. Prior to joining Facebook, Sandberg served as Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google.

Sandberg is also a bestselling author and influential voice in the business world, particularly for women. In 2013, she wrote the book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead," which became a cultural phenomenon and a bestseller, in which she encourages women to pursue their career aspirations and to "lean in" to leadership roles. The book is based on her own experiences as a woman in the tech industry and provides practical advice for women looking to advance in their careers.

Sandberg is also a philanthropist, and founded Leanin.org to support women in achieving their goals. She is also active in a variety of other philanthropic and social causes, including her role as a board member of the Center for Global Development and the Women's World Banking.

Ursula Burns: Former CEO of Xerox

Ursula Burns is an American businesswoman and the former CEO of Xerox. She was the first African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company and the first woman to succeed another woman as the head of a Fortune 500 company. Burns joined Xerox in 1980 as an intern and worked her way up through the company, holding various positions in engineering and product development before being named CEO in 2009. During her tenure as CEO, she oversaw a major restructuring of the company and worked to expand its services business.

Before becoming CEO, Burns served as President of Xerox and as CEO of the company's Business Group Operations. She also served on the Board of Directors of the American Express Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation and as the Vice Chair of the Ford Foundation.

Burns is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and has been recognized for her leadership and her efforts to promote diversity. She is also a mentor and role model for many women and minorities in the business world.

Mary Barra: CEO of General Motors

Mary Barra is an American businesswoman who is currently the CEO of General Motors (GM), one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. She was appointed CEO in January 2014 and is the first woman to lead a major global automaker.

Barra began her career at GM in 1980 as a co-op student and has held a variety of leadership roles within the company. She has experience in engineering, manufacturing, and global product development, and before becoming CEO, she served as Senior Vice President of Global Product Development, purchasing, and supply chain.

As CEO, Barra has overseen a significant restructuring of the company, including the sale of GM's European operations and the closure of several plants. She has also focused on investing in electric and autonomous vehicles, and under her leadership, GM announced its goal to have 30 electric models by 2025.

Barra has been recognized as one of the most powerful women in business and has received several awards for her leadership, including being named as the Most Powerful Women in business by Forbes. She is also a member of several boards, including the Board of Directors of the American Automotive Policy Council and the Board of Directors of the Detroit Economic Club.

Marillyn Hewson: CEO of Lockheed Martin

Marillyn Hewson is an American businesswoman and the current CEO of Lockheed Martin, one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the world. She was appointed to the position in 2013, becoming the first woman to lead the company.

Before becoming CEO, Hewson held a variety of leadership roles at Lockheed Martin, including Executive Vice President of Electronic Systems, President and COO of the company's Information Systems & Global Solutions business, and Vice President and General Manager of the company's Aeronautics business.

As CEO, Hewson has focused on expanding the company's international business, as well as investing in new technologies such as cybersecurity and hypersonic weapons. She has also emphasized the importance of innovation and efficiency in the company's operations, and has overseen the successful completion of several major programs such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Hewson is a Board of Directors Member of the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Defense Industrial Association, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Dow Chemical Company, and is recognized as one of the most powerful women in business, being included in Forbes' list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.

Ginni Rometty: Former CEO of IBM

Ginni Rometty is an American businesswoman and the former CEO of IBM, one of the world's largest technology companies. She was appointed to the position in 2012, becoming the first woman to lead the company, and served as CEO until January 2021.

Before becoming CEO, Rometty held a variety of leadership roles at IBM, including Senior Vice President and Group Executive for Sales, Marketing, and Strategy, and Senior Vice President and Group Executive for the company's Global Business Services.

As CEO, Rometty focused on transforming IBM into a cloud-based, data-driven company, and oversaw several strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of cloud computing company SoftLayer and analytics company The Weather Company. She also emphasized the importance of innovation and led IBM into the era of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing.

Rometty was recognized as one of the most powerful women in business, being included in Forbes' list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women multiple times. She also serves on the board of Directors of The National Academy of Engineering, The Business Roundtable, and The Council on Foreign Relations.

Angela Merkel: Chancellor of Germany

Angela Merkel is a German politician who has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005. She is the first woman to ever hold the office and is widely considered to be one of the most powerful and influential women in the world.

Merkel began her political career in the 1990s as a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. She quickly rose through the ranks and was appointed as the party's first female leader in 2000. In 2005, she was elected as Chancellor, and has been re-elected three times since then, making her the longest-serving head of government in the European Union.

As Chancellor, Merkel has played a key role in shaping the political and economic landscape of Europe, particularly in response to the Eurozone crisis. She has also been a leading figure in the European Union, advocating for deeper integration and working to address issues such as the refugee crisis and climate change.

Merkel is widely respected for her pragmatic approach to politics, her strong leadership skills, and her ability to build consensus. She has been named as the world's second most powerful woman by Forbes magazine and has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership and contributions to Europe and the world.

Indira Nooyi: Former CEO of PepsiCo

Indira Nooyi is an Indian-American businesswoman and the former CEO of PepsiCo, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world. She was appointed to the position in 2006 and served as CEO until October 2018.

Before becoming CEO, Nooyi held a variety of leadership roles at PepsiCo, including Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and President of PepsiCo International.

As CEO, Nooyi focused on transforming PepsiCo into a more health-conscious company, by investing in healthier products and promoting sustainable practices. Under her leadership, the company also expanded its operations in emerging markets, and made several strategic acquisitions, including that of Tropicana and Quaker Oats.

Nooyi is widely recognized as one of the most powerful women in business and has been named as the most powerful woman in business by Fortune magazine multiple times. She is also known for her commitment to diversity and inclusion, and her efforts to promote gender and ethnic diversity in the workplace. Nooyi serves on the board of Directors of Amazon, Schlumberger Limited and is a member of the U.S.-India CEO Forum.

Diane von Furstenberg: Fashion designer and businesswoman.

Diane von Furstenberg is a Belgian-American fashion designer and businesswoman, known for her iconic wrap dresses and her influential role in the fashion industry. She began her career in the 1970s, creating a line of wrap dresses that became popular among women. She later expanded her brand to include a wide range of clothing and accessories, and established a reputation as a trailblazer in the fashion industry.

In addition to her fashion design career, von Furstenberg is also a successful businesswoman. She is the founder of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and served as its president for several years. She has also been a vocal advocate for the rights of fashion designers and has been involved in several initiatives to support the fashion industry.

Von Furstenberg is also a philanthropist and has been involved in a variety of charitable causes, including her work as the president of the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, which supports education and the arts. She is also an advocate for women's rights and has been a mentor to many young women in the fashion industry.

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