In honor of International Women’s Day, we would like to take a moment and highlight three American businesswomen who paved the road for women-owned businesses like ours. These women broke more than just glass ceilings and overcame challenges to make things a little easier for us. And for that we are forever grateful.
Ruth Handler was an American businesswoman and inventor, best known for creating the Barbie doll, which became one of the most iconic toys of the 20th century. Handler co-founded the toy company Mattel with her husband, Elliot Handler, and their friend Harold "Matt" Matson in 1945. She served as the company's president from 1967 to 1973 and remained on the board of directors until 1975.
Handler got the idea for Barbie while watching her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls. The doll was an immediate success and became a cultural phenomenon, leading to a line of Barbie-related merchandise and spin-off products.
In addition to her work with Barbie, Handler was also an advocate for women in business and a supporter of breast cancer research. She was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2000, and her contributions to the toy industry and American culture have been widely recognized.
Madam C.J. Walker was an American businesswoman who made a significant impact on US business. Born in 1867 in Louisiana, Walker was the daughter of former slaves and worked as a washerwoman for many years before becoming an entrepreneur. She invented a line of hair care products for black women, which she sold door-to-door and through a network of sales agents.
Walker's products were a huge success, and she quickly became one of the wealthiest African American women in the United States. She used her fortune to support charitable causes, including educational scholarships for black students and donations to the NAACP.
Walker was also a prominent advocate for women's rights and entrepreneurship and encouraged other women to start their own businesses. She was a member of the National Association of Colored Women and worked with other activists to promote civil rights and social justice issues.
Indra Nooyi is an Asian American businesswoman who was born in Chennai, India. Nooyi moved to the United States in 1978 to attend graduate school at Yale University. She began her career as a management consultant before joining PepsiCo in 1994 Nooyi rose through the ranks at PepsiCo, eventually becoming CEO in 2006, a position she held until 2018. During her tenure, she oversaw the company's expansion into healthier food and beverage options, as well as its expansion into new markets around the world. She also spearheaded PepsiCo's sustainability efforts and initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the company.
Nooyi has been widely recognized for her contributions to business and leadership, including being named one of Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Business and Forbes' Most Powerful Women in the World. She has also been a vocal advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment and has spoken out on issues such as pay equity and work-life balance. Nooyi’s success as a businesswoman and her commitment to social responsibility have made her a role model and inspiration for many and she continues to be a prominent figure in both business and philanthropy.