Oreet Jehassi Schwartz of Philadelphia designed SharQui, a belly dance class for fitness fans. Then it became the foundation for lasting a business — and a tool to help women around the world love the bodies they’ve got.
Features
We've interviewed hundreds of successful women entrepreneurs about their small business journeys and what they learned along the way. Read the stories of inspiring startup founders, mid-stage strivers and established business leaders. Learn from the experiences of women business owners of every age working in every industry, from around the world. Discover the many paths women are taking to build great companies, break through barriers and cultivate economic and social good. Get ready! These everyday role models may well inspire you to start your own business, or give you killer ideas for growing the one you have. You may even feel inspired to share your startup story with us.
Building Schools and Futures in Central America
Boston’s Kate Curran started School the World to build schoolhouses and change the lives of children living in extreme poverty. It turns out she’s transforming the lives of privileged kids, too.
Ditching Corporate Life to Care for Kids Half a World Away
Maya Rowencak started her nonprofit, Maya’s Hope, after a life-changing visit to a Filipino orphanage. Through storytelling — and lots of legwork — she raises funds to give these children the care they deserve.
Combining Cold Facts and a Warm Heart to Empower African Women
Filipa Carreira of Mozambique runs research firm FC Consulting and its nonprofit project, Wamina, which supplies local women with reusable menstrual pads that keep them healthy and give them independence.
Turning Soap into Jobs for Iraqi Women
When Zinah Saleh and her female friends couldn’t land jobs in a post-war Baghdad, she started a business, Ishtar Handmade Soap. Now, she employs only women.
Announcing: The Passionate & Purposeful List
The outstanding entrepreneurial women featured on our 2017 list show how passion and purpose can ignite successful, impactful ventures — and how life circumstances inform what lights the fire inside of us.
How a Tween’s Babysitter Frustrations Inspired Her to Start a Business
Suffering caretakers she didn’t like was out the question for Noa Mintz, who started babysitter-matching service Nannies by Noa at age 12. Today, she artfully balances high school and success as an entrepreneur.
Bringing Safety, Strength and Style to Women’s Workouts
How Kimberly Caccavo and Kate Nowlan, cofounders of high-end athletic wear maker GRACEDBYGRIT, stitched protection and empowerment into the fabric of their brand.
Hong Kong Dispatch: The Mighty MISSBISH Team
Gillian Wong, Lindsay Jang and Nicole Fung brought different professional experiences when they came together to build MISSBISH, a popular online destination for Hong Kong women’s streetwear.
Joy Godfrey: Cashing In On a Budding Market
“I decided that I had all that I needed to offer services in different areas of financial services.”
Helping Women Feel Beautiful, Inside and Out
Takia Ross, owner of Baltimore makeup studio Accessmatized, is bringing positivity to everyone from blushing brides and struggling students to stressed-out mothers — with help from the perfect shade of lipstick.
How a Teenager Turned Doodles into a Million-Dollar Business
At age 16, Juliette Brindak started a popular tween website. Then she learned the hard way that there are ups and downs not just to growing up but also to growing a business.
Hong Kong Dispatch: Maura Thompson is Helping Women Love This City
An American who moved to Hong Kong with her family tells us about creating a media platform to help women like her make the most of city life.
Singapore Dispatch: Anna Gong, the Turnaround Girl
The CEO of tech startup Perx talks about turning around the company by revamping its business model for a changed marketplace.
A Former Hairstylist Brings Hope to Senior Dogs
Sherri Franklin, inspired by her affection for senior dogs, created a San Francisco organization called Muttville that has rescued thousands of them.