Everyone has a natural talent, whether it is for sports, music, gardening, or business. Those people with inner entrepreneurial talent are the most likely to succeed in business. Many motivational speakers devote time to explaining why it is best to concentrate on what you are good at, as your chances of success are greater. A natural talent should not be wasted, and many thousands of words have been written to inspire and motivate those who have both dreams and the talent to pursue them.
One thing that does not matter at all in seeking entrepreneurial success is gender. Although men dominate the world of business for historical reasons, there are quite a few most successful female entrepreneurs. These are women who have progressed in their chosen business by displaying all the necessary qualities for success. They have shown expertise, a positive attitude, self-discipline, persistence, passion, and adaptability. These women are outstanding examples to us all because they are self-motivated, have no fear of failing, and so will take risks. Their willingness to try new things comes from a curiosity that leads them to learn about new developments and embrace change.
This article is devoted to celebrating ten of the most successful female entrepreneurs currently working. These women are not just successful in their chosen field but are incredibly influential. Each is a famous and respected high-flyer.
1. Cher Wang.
Let’s start right at the top with probably the most successful woman entrepreneur in the world today. She leads the pack because, unlike some other successful women, she has made her fortune by her hard work.
Cher Wang is the CEO of HTC, the cell phone manufacturer that controls about 20% of the market for smartphones. She is an excellent example of the rewards to be had when you believe in your products, and aim to be one of the best and most successful companies in your field.
2. Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah Winfrey’s fortune stems from her role as a TV star. She has the happy knack of knowing instinctively what women, in particular, enjoy watching. Millions watch her TV shows, and her grasp of the TV industry has allowed her to build an empire that includes many media platforms.
She is influential both in the entertainment business and in the world at large. She has politicians as friends, and she can change peoples’ minds when she expresses an opinion.
3. Angela Merkel.
While Angela Merkel is not, strictly speaking, an entrepreneur, she is a powerful and influential woman. As Chancellor of a united Germany, she approaches her role with the attitudes of a businesswoman. She is passionate about Germany and its recovery from economic difficulties in the wake of unification. She also applies discipline to her administrative undertakings, yet is adaptable when changes in the political scene in Europe happen. She is persuasive and persistent when she wishes to achieve an objective.
Her position as leader of the wealthiest European economy gives her influence and power far beyond Germany’s borders. Her words can calm jittery stock markets and bring wayward politicians, companies, and even countries, back into line.
4. Indra Nooyi
Pepsico is the second-largest food and beverage company in the world. Indra Nooyi is the current CEO of the company, having previously held top jobs in a variety of other organizations. She has a wealth of experience and a determination to succeed at whatever she chooses to undertake.
She is a dedicated believer in the value of education, having several degrees, and an MBA and a Master’s degree. Born in India, Indra Nooyi is a genuinely motivational figure.
5. Melinda Gates.
The Microsoft Corporation was founded by Melinda’s husband, Bill Gates, and has brought the couple fabulous wealth. Together, today they are mostly concerned with distributing their wealth to charitable causes around the world.
Like Andrew Carnegie before them, Bill and Melinda Gates believe that those who accumulate great wealth have a moral duty to use the money for the benefit of others. Melinda Gates has been the driving force in this ambition, and they have already donated billions of dollars.
Her role in the charitable organization they run makes her an influential woman in her own right.
6. Susan Wojcicki.
There are very few people who have never heard of Google. The giant search engine company is one of the outstanding successes of the internet age. Susan Wojcicki is Senior Vice President at Google, with special responsibility for advertising revenue. In this role, she has transformed what was a brilliant idea into an extremely profitable one.
7. Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga was born Stefanie Germanotta but was wise enough to realize that success would follow only if she made herself memorable in the pop music industry. Accordingly, she adopted the persona of Lady Gaga. Her style, clothes, and image were all deliberately distinctive. Her approach worked, and she was soon a household name in dozens of countries. Her songs roared to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
By her mid-twenties, Lady Gaga’s estimated worth exceeded $100 million. Fans eagerly awaited each new record, and she accompanied them with innovative and memorable videos. Lady Gaga capitalized on her talent for music by writing her own songs, which boosted her income from royalties.
In Lady Gaga, we see a girl who was willing to adapt to achieve success. She used her talent to build a business that grew through careful management and dedication. Lady Gaga is renowned as a hard-working singer with a positive and determined attitude.
8. Sara Blakely
Sara Blakely is the world’s youngest self-made billionaire. She achieved this distinction through the success of her underwear company, “Spanx.”
Any aspiring billionaire will see in Sara Blakely, an inspirational example of not allowing failure to affect your determination. Sara’s dream was to become a lawyer, and when that did not happen, she switched her attention to underwear. Her idea proved to be inspired, and her company soon took off. This success was due to her ability to adapt to changing markets and to her self-belief and dedication.
9. J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling’s story is one of those rags-to-riches stories that warm our hearts from time to time. As a struggling single mother, she believed passionately in the book that she wrote under challenging circumstances. She loved the characters she created and the storyline she devised. Despite numerous refusals from publishing houses, she persevered until a small publisher accepted the book. That decision made both their fortunes.
The Harry Potter series of books captured the imaginations of millions of children and a lot of adults, too. Films followed, with a theme park and a host of franchised goods. With her reputation established, Rowling was able to devote more time to writing other fiction, but also expanded the magical world she had created for Harry Potter.
J. K. Rowling is one of the most inspirational writers working today. Her single-minded dedication to getting her first book published shows that we should never be deterred from achieving our dream.
10. Sheryl Sandberg.
When Sheryl Sandberg joined Facebook in 2008, it was burdened with a high valuation that many thought over-optimistic. Her role was to make Facebook into a profitable company that deserved its valuation. This she did, and spectacularly so.
Sheryl Sandberg has overseen the tenfold increase in Facebook’s user base and the rise to household name status. Her guidance took Facebook’s profits into millions of dollars and resulted in the company being valued at one point at $100 billion.
No-one can doubt that the changes she made at Facebook worked and that her determination to carry out her remit cannot be faulted. Here was a woman with real dedication, self-belief, and confidence. She knew what had to be done and persevered until she achieved those goals. Facebook’s success and worldwide reach are very much due to Sheryl Sandberg and her vision.
Conclusion
The most successful female entrepreneurs are great examples of far-sighted and determined women who overcame many difficulties in achieving their goals. All of them show that women can be successful and reach the highest positions in business and politics.
