Entrepreneurship has been a hot topic in the last couple of years. Many articles and books have been written about it, and an entire university curriculum has been built around this subject. Success stories concerning people who went from “zero to hero” have infiltrated our news feeds.
Women-owned businesses are now fast-tracked, and it has never been a better time to be a female entrepreneur. Statistics in a report published by Womenable and American Express OPEN say that the number of women-owned firms in the US only continues to climb, and it is estimated to surpass 9.4 million enterprises, which is 30 percent of all businesses in the country.
It is nothing new that women have a hard time working in a male-dominated corporate world, where they constantly face challenges like being underpaid, passed over for promotions, and even met with sexism. This is why, in many cases, women turn to freelance and start their businesses. This offers them a chance to escape and a chance for success.
Everyone has ideas, but these inspiring female entrepreneurs have turned theirs into realities. Let’s look at five female entrepreneurs who should be on your radar, are empowered, and may inspire you to turn your ideas into reality.
Danielle Arps
Danielle Arps is the founder of Dani Arps, an NYC-based interior design company specializing in residential and commercial spaces and startups. Danielle graduated from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, one of the most prestigious design schools, where she received her Master of Science in Interior Design. Danielle has become known as the NYC tech scene’s interior designer, and her design company has graced the premises of some high-profile startup spaces, including Newscred, Kitchensurfing, and Fueled.
Cara Alwill Leyba
NYC-based Master Life Coach and author Cara Alwill Leyba encourages women to create “Champagne Life” for themselves. This means they should live effervescently, making happiness their priority and celebrating themselves daily.
Cara is running an international boutique coaching practice, where she works with bored and burnt-out women who know that they are destined to do more in life. Through support, loving guidance, and an expert perspective, Cara empowers women to face their fears and create careers and lifestyles that will be vibrant, authentic, and inspiring.
Adrienne Bosh
Adrienne Bosh founded Sparkle and Shine Darling in Miami, Florida, which is a Parisian-inspired boutique and a space where, as Adrienne says, “women can shop, have fun, and be inspired.”
This boutique and online shop contain carefully selected novelties and knick-knacks, and Adrienne has even created her line of Sparkle & Shine products, including mugs, stationery, and more. Adrienne is very passionate about women empowerment and support for mothers and wants to make the world a better and glitzier place.
Suann Song
Suann Song is a graphic designer who founded Appointed in Washington DC, an American-made brand with carefully designed desktop products that give the utility a luxurious look. Suann had done an exhaustive and unsuccessful search when she tried to find refined and well-made desktop products manufactured in the US, so she decided to create her own.
Suann’s selection of hand-crafted desktop tools are polished and practical and, most importantly, prototyped to perfection. Her products are designed to elevate the whole work experience. Suann is also the owner of SIMPLE SONG Design, which is now a nationally recognized creative studio.
Sarah and Emily Hamilton
Sarah and Emily are twin sisters who founded Bellabox, a subscription-based beauty box that delivers samples of beauty products right to your doorstep. Their business is based in Melbourne and has 15 staff members. BellaBox currently has over 40,000 members, and, believe it or not, and they raised $7 million from investors.
Support matters for female entrepreneurs who are on the rise, and it can help them succeed like Sarah and Emily. They have successfully expanded their business to China.
These are just a few examples of aspiring female entrepreneurs who had a dream and worked hard to make it happen. Use their stories as inspiration because everything is possible with the right amount of desire and guidance. If you have been storing ideas in your head, do not be afraid to try to make them happen; just be sure about who you are and what you can do, and you will be able to deal with every challenge that may come your way.
