The glass ceiling may still be a problem for many women today, but there are some brilliant examples from all corners of the business world, whether they’ve set up their own companies, supported other women in the workplace or made their way to the very top of a well-known organisation. Here are seven names to know…
1. Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry (above)
Apparently this powerhouse of business hasn’t taken a day’s sick leave in 25 years, but that’s far from being the basis of her reputation. Ahrendts is best known for being the CEO of Burberry since 2006, where she transformed social media and grew the presence of this traditional British brand, bringing it to a wider demographic and significantly boosting sales. She’s due to take on an even more high-profile role when she starts work for Apple later this year, so expect the tech company to be well and truly transformed thanks to her influence. If you want to get some of Ahrendts’ infectious energy, read her article for LinkedIn and be inspired by her constant drive to improve, as seen in her TED talk.
2. Oprah Winfrey, inspirational business leader
It’s telling that Forbes.com carries a piece called ’23 Leadership Tips from Oprah Winfrey’. She may have started out as a local newscaster, but Winfrey’s personality and talent soon saw her broadcasting to millions and becoming as well known for her ever-expanding media empire, covering everything from producing women-centric programs to editing her own magazines, all alongside an acting career and regular philanthropic projects such as building a school in Africa. The highly popular syndicated chat show responsible for making Winfrey to become a household name may no longer be on our screens, but her influence continues through other media, such as O Magazine, and through her acting work, most recently in the moving film biopic, The Butler.
3. Julie Deane and Freda Thomas, founders of the Cambridge Satchel Company
In recent years, the humble satchel has gone from a half-forgotten retro accessory to a must-have wardrobe staple for both women and men around the world, thanks largely to the work of Julie Deane and Freda Thomas, who founded the Cambridge Satchel Company in 2008 with just £600 to invest and the aim of supporting Deane’s children’s education. Fast forward (through the establishing of their Leicester factory with its apprenticeship program) to 2014 and their products are worn by celebrities on a regular basis, they’re stocked by the likes of ASOS and Harrods and the company is looking to break into the Chinese market. The projected turnover for 2014 is an incredible £15m, so this is no flash-in-the-pan trend; it seems the ladies have made us realise that the one thing we all need is a few more satchels in our lives.
Image Source: DailyMail.co.uk
4. Octavia Goredema MBE, founder of the Twenty Ten Club
A consummate champion of black female entrepreneurs, Octavia Goredema knows how to inspire the next generation of business leaders. Sensing that young black women need more entrepreneurs to look up to, and that those role models needed to support each other, she set about creating a website, running networking events and organising workshops in London schools. You can read more about the Twenty Ten Club, in Goredema’s own words, by clicking here; it has highlighted the efforts of over 100 black women in business so far, with a promising future ahead for both the organisation and the young girls being prepped to achieve their dreams and set up their own companies.
5. Victoria Beckham, founder of eponymous fashion brand
Never judge a book by its cover or, perhaps more accurately, never judge an ex-Spice Girl and long-time WAG by her past fashion mistakes — as proved by the resounding success of Victoria Beckham’s fashion career. We all thought we knew her as the woman who liked to wear his-and-hers matching outfits and seemingly had no sense of humour, but these days Beckham is better known for having impeccable taste in clothing and a sixth sense when it comes to typing out hilarious fashion-orientated tweets. Having just presented a sophisticated and truly impressive A/W14 collection at New York Fashion Week, it’s not hard to acknowledge that her brand has gone from strength to strength, with a London flagship store set to open in the near future, cementing her status as a fashion icon.
6. Hilary Devey CBE, founder and CEO of the Pall-Ex Group
The male-dominated freight industry didn’t seem like a daunting prospect to a young Hilary Devey, who had spent seven years building up experience there before setting up her own company. What may have seemed more of a threat was the opposition she faced from banks, leaving her with no choice but to sell her house in order to fund her dream, and ensuring that she paid workers’ wages before her own in the early days of Pall-Ex. Ploughing everything she had into the business, it grew to become a leading distribution network with a turnover of £100m, and she was later rewarded for her efforts with a CBE and a place on the panel of Dragons’ Den for two years.
7. Vanitha Narayanan, MD of IBM India
Having spent 20 years in the telecom industry, it could have been assumed that Vanitha Narayanan might have struggled to lead IBM in India, suddenly dealing with plenty more areas of expertise to juggle simultaneously, such as marketing and manufacturing. Yet this determined worker wasn’t afraid of a challenge; she had already built herself up from trainee level, powering through the ranks and taking on new skills. Working in both the US and China before moving to India, she proved she was adaptable. She’s also been strong enough to succeed in a male-dominated field and has risen to be one of the few female technology business leaders in India, surely making her an inspiration.
There are so many great women to look up to, and hopefully there will come a time when we won’t have to rely on lists, because there will be so many names out there in the public eye. In the meantime, keep supporting female business leaders such as those above, and look to them for inspiration.
Do you know someone who should be on this list but isn’t? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
