Technology, web applications and the mobile boom, all of these are fast-growing industries and sectors across the whole world. But what’s the one group that’s experiencing just as much growth, that people often overlook? Female entrepreneurs.
Men often get the limelight for business, financial and technological accomplishments. In this post, we’re focusing on nine noteworthy female entrepreneurs you’re probably didn’t know about.
1. Nicole Sanchez
A graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Business School, Sanchez brought her talents to multiple companies as a consultant and hospitality expert before venturing into entrepreneurship. Somewhat apprehensive about entrepreneurship in general, Sanchez notes that even after attending a school like Harvard, she didn’t feel fully qualified to start her own company.
Her biggest recommendation to fellow female entrepreneurs is to get started today, even when conditions aren’t perfect. One of Sanchez’ largest accomplishments to date is the creation of TenderCaring, a business that helps seniors remain at home through technology and living assistance.
2. Heidi Ganahl
Founder of one of the largest multifaceted dog brands in the United States, Camp Bow Wow, Heidi Ganahl is a market leader when it comes to pets. Her venture is unique in that Camp Bow Wow offers more customizable services than competitors at better prices, and each dog supervisor is trained to meet specific benchmarks of excellence.
Ganahl’s $65 million franchise currently serves a wide variety of needs for dog owners at over 130 locations throughout the country.
3. Maria Seidman
Seidman orchestrated accomplishments from mobile teams at MGM, Goldman Sachs and Warner Bros. before launching her own company, Yapp. Her company Yapp is now the go-to site for creating mobile applications in minutes.
4. Heddi Cundle
Before starting her own venture, Cundle worked with global travel and lifestyle brands for over two decades. She now brings that experience and insight to her own company, MyTab.co, a travel gift card service.
Cundle’s concept is unique in that family and friends can contribute to a loved one’s travel desires, and the loved one can utilize thousands of airfare and lodging options via the app.
5. Judith Faulkner
If you’ve been to any kind of doctor recently, you’ve probably seen a program called Epic Systems on the desktop computer. This efficient and user-friendly software was founded by Judith Faulkner, who bootstrapped the company with just $6,000 in 1979.
In 2014, Epic pulled revenues of $1.77 billion. Talk about an encouraging and empowering story for young female entrepreneurs!
6. Sandy Lerner
Depending on your place of work, your vocation may involve multiple conference rooms, mobile phones and pagers. Cisco Systems may very well be the provider of such technology, as they are now the largest networking technology company in the world.
As co-founder of Cisco, Lerner worked with then-boyfriend Leonard Bosack on the company for six years before she was fired and they both left. After selling another cosmetics company she started, Lerner is now deeply involved in sustainable agriculture.
7. Anne Bezancon
Previously an executive for PCI and Productopia, Anne Bezancon effectively conquered multiple mobile and consumer marketing challenges. Currently, she is the president and founder of Placecast, a cutting-edge mobile marketing firm.
Bezancon takes her expertise from marketing to customers, how they want to be reached, and provides it for companies who want to increase customer engagement and satisfaction in real-time scenarios. Some of Placecast’s clients include Best Buy, Starbucks, Discover, GAP, Kohl’s, American Eagle and Jet Blue Airways.
8. Sonia Kapadia
A graduate of Harvard Business School and University of Pennsylvania, Kapadia spent multiple years at Pepsi and Gu Chocolate Desserts before deciding she wanted to create her own operation.
Kapadia’s currently best-known entrepreneurial effort is Taste Savant, an outlet and info hub for savvy diners.
9. Anne Wojcicki
Before her own venture, Wojcicki was likely best-known as wife of Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google. Then in 2006, Anne Wojcicki began 23andMe – a genetic history reporting firm. Users now purchase the genetic reporting package, and – after mailing a small tube of saliva back – receive over 60 customized and personal reports about their genetics and possible disease risk. 23andMe’s pricing has risen over recent years, but the firm also provides more value than previous iterations of their product. If you want to get a highly personalized report of your health, look no further than Wojcicki’s unique venture.
Conclusion
Hopefully learning about these female entrepreneurs has inspired and encouraged you to keep moving forward to your own goals. As many of these women have revealed – dreams don’t happen overnight, the biggest step you can take towards entrepreneurial success is to simply commit yourself and keep pursuing your passion with hard work!
