1. Harvard Business Review's 10 Must Reads The most important ideas on management all in one place! "This set of HBR's 10 Must Reads, available as a 14-volume paperback boxed set or as an ebook set is the result of careful combing through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles on topics such as emotional intelligence, communication, change, leadership, strategy, managing people, and managing yourself. It has selected the most important articles to help you maximize your own and your organization's performance." Makes a smart gift for the female leader. Click HERE to find it.

2. Kate Spade New York Wilson Road Bow Daveney Laptop Bag (in Black & Cream) The quintessential working woman's laptop bag. Graceful, modern and feminine. It suits a confident woman with style to match. "laptop bag with an adjustable, removable crossbody strap." "fits 15" laptop. kate spade new york signature on enamel license plate." "two interior slide pockets. interior padded laptop slide pocket with snap closure." "nylon with crosshatched pvc trim. capital kate jacquard lining. 14-karat light gold plated hardware" "11.7"h x 15.2"w x 2.3"d. drop length: 6.3" handheld. total adjustable strap length: 55"." Find it HERE.

3. Barsetto Espresso Coffee Maker Barsetto Coffee Machine 15 Bar Stainless Steel Coffee Brewer with Independent Milk Frother for Cappuccino, Latte and Mocha (silver&black) Her morning espresso just got tastier. This gorgeous stainless steel espresso machine and coffee maker is a quick and convenient way to get your morning cup of jo. It's both easy-to-use and looks great in the kitchen. A must-have for the coffee-loving business woman. "Semi-automatic 2-in-1 espresso maker with milk frother, brew great flavor espresso cappuccino, latte and moka from the first to last drop." "Rich taste of espresso : 15 Bar high-pressure pump brews rich-tasting espresso, extraction of coffee oil and internal layers of coffee, will enable you enjoy every drop of pure Italian coffee." "Brilliant Design: Full stainless body and automatic temperature control provide a safe and durable usage experience. Removable transparent reservoirs with 52.8oz/1.5L volume, easy to clean." "Professional frothing wand: Make fantastic foamed milk for cappuccino, macchiato and latte by hot steam. Creating the best ,thick foam with low decibel." "2 year Warranty: 24 months product warranty and 24/7 customer service. Keep you money safe and provide a wonderful service for you." Click HERE to see details.

4. Gucci GG0062S Sunglasses Hello GORGEOUS! These sunglasses are perfect for the business woman who is constantly on the go. Sleek, lightweight and durable, they add a touch of cool. They come in blue, gold, grey and other colors. metal frame plastic lens non-polarized Lens width: 57 millimeters Bridge: 17 millimeters Arm: 140 millimeters Sunglasses Click HERE to fine them.

5. Boss Lady Travel Mug The perfect gift for the awesome boss lady. This beautiful travel mug keeps your drink warm, and your attitude cool. With simple design and gold top, this mug is a functional but also lovely accessory. Your girl will love it! "16 Ounce ​Insulated Plastic Travel Mug" "Shiny ​Gold Foil Screw On ​Lid With Slide Closure" "Hand ​Written Design​" "BPA, ​Phthalate, ​+ ​L​ead ​F​ree" "Hand Wash only. Not suitable for Microwave." See it HERE.

6. Wine Lovers Perfect Gift Basket Box with Bring Me Some Wine Socks and more br> Wine lovers' dram basket! "The perfect gift for any wine lover assembled by our designers and ready to be sent to your loved one." "The box contains a cozy (and hilarious) pair of socks. "If you can read this, bring me a glass of wine!" "Also included: a custom stemless wine glass that reads "time to wine down". A DW Home 4oz scented candle sets the relaxing ambiance." "A beautiful crystal accented bottle stopper, wine crackers, almonds and wine chocolates." Grab the basket HERE.

7. Chefman Electric Wine Opener No more struggling to open wine bottles. This electric wine bottle opener requires little time and effort. One light touch, and it's done. "CORDLESS & QUICK: The simple push-button operation so you can easily remove the cork in seconds - without breaking the cork. Foil cutter included for easily removing seals with one turn of a hand." "SLEEK DESIGN WITH VISIBLE CORKSCREW: This wine opener features stainless steel housing with a transparent shell surrounding the corkscrew mechanism, as well as an elegant charging base with blue LED light." "POWERFUL & RECHARGEABLE: Built-in rechargeable battery, opens up to 30 bottles on a single charge, simple push-button operation. 110-240V DC power adopter 2 prong North American plug." "PERFECT GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION: This bottle opener makes for the perfect gift for any wine lover in your life for any occasion; Birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Anniversaries, Valentines Day, Graduation and more!" "RESOURCES & WARRANTY: Includes access to Club Chefman for tailor made step-by-step recipes, tutorial videos, and more! cETL approved with advanced safety technology for long lasting durability, & 1-year hassle-free warranty provided by Chefman, so you can purchase worry-free." Find it HERE.

8. Keurig 119277 K250 Coffee Maker (Turquoise) The most convenient coffee maker ever! All you have to do is push brew. The coffee is warm, delicious and has a kick. No messy filters full of ground coffee. Very little clean up. A must-have for busy business women. "A sleek and slim single-serve coffee maker. Includes 4 K-Cup pods, a water filter handle + 2 water filters, and a bottle of descaling solution to help extend the life of your brewer" "40 oz. water reservoir allows you to brew 4+ cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine." "The water reservoir is removable, making it easy to refill" "Brews multiple K-Cup pod brew sizes (4, 6, 8, 10 oz.) and brews a Carafe (22, 26, or 30oz) using K-Carafe pods to give you more coffee when you need it (Carafe sold separately)" "Strength Control: A strength control setting allows you to brew a bolder cup using any K-Cup pod brew size. Compact Size." "Dimensions-15 L X 9 W X 13.7 H inches" "A black and white touch screen makes it easy to brew a fresh, great tasting cup in under a minute" "Dispense hot water only by opening and closing the brewer handle (without a pod), and selecting your desired brew size. A removable drip tray at the base of the brewer catches drips and makes for easy clean-up" Get it at THIS LOCATION.

9. Carejoy C shape Decoration Magnetic Levitation Floating Globe World Map Brilliant gift for the worldly woman. "THIS HIGH TECH GADGET: also comes with a LED light feature that makes it look very cool when turned on in the dark" "HOW IT WORK: It is operated by an electronically controlled magnetic system. The magnetic above the gadget contains an electro magnet and a magnetic field sensor" "HOW-TO-USE: Once you get the gadget levitating, give it a little spin then it will rotate smoothly." "PERFECT GIFT : for any home or office. This cool gadget makes a great display unit for your retail shop, business and home" Find gift HERE.

11. Godiva Chocolatier Signature Chocolate Truffles Delicious! These are amazing. They also make the most amazing gift. "12 exciting assorted chocolate truffles (8.3 oz.) from Godiva; includes classic and innovative truffle flavors." "Enjoy sweet, savory, and spicy truffle flavors from Godiva's world-famous truffle line. Makes a decadent fancy chocolate gift." "Godiva chocolate truffles with cream or ganache and covered with a thin layer of chocolate, plus a dusting of powder, chopped nuts, or other decoration." "Assorted chocolate, truffles, truffle truffle, fancy chocolate Godiva chocolate, truffles, chocolate" Find these delicious chocolates HERE.

11. PurSteam Garment Steamer Excellent idea for the business woman who travels a lot. Portable and powerful, this handheld steamer smoothes out wrinkles and cleans the fabric. It's fantastic for travel, and is great for use at home too. "SUPERIOR COMPONENTS - Others may look the same on the outside but our aluminum heating ball is superior to any of the heating elements of our competitors. Only travel steamer with BPA free ABS/PP. Others just use ABS, which is much less durable" "TECHNOLOGY LEADER - Newest steam channeling design delivers steam more powerfully and evenly to remove the toughest wrinkles from a multitude of fabrics in drapery, clothing, and much more." "WRINKLE BUSTER - The PurSteam Portable Garment Steamer is the most powerful handheld garment steamer on the market! Heats up in 90 seconds and smooths and de-wrinkles any garment quickly and easily including upholstery, bedding, , tableclothes and more. Includes travel bag for easy packing" "GENTLE ON FABRICS - It is safe to use, and gentle on even the most delicate fabrics. Use it on satin, nylon blends, cotton, wool, linen, sequins, beads, embroidery, and more!" "SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - We are so confident in the quality of our product that we offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and industry leading full 3 Year warranty - so buy now!" Get it HERE.

12. Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - New and improved smart speaker with Alexa A fast-moving business woman loves to keep up with technology. This new and improved smart speaker uses the latest Alexa technology, and looks sleek too. "MEET THE ALL-NEW ECHO DOT - Our most popular smart speaker, with new fabric design, and improved speaker for richer and louder sound." "VOICE CONTROL YOUR MUSIC - Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music (coming soon), Spotify, Sirius XM, and others through the improved speaker for richer and louder sound." "BIGGER, BETTER SOUND - For bigger sound, pair with a second Echo Dot (3rd gen) for rich, stereo sound. Fill your home with music with compatible Echo devices in different rooms." "READY TO HELP - Ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, read the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices, and more." "CONNECT WITH OTHERS - Call and message almost anyone hands-free. Instantly drop in on other rooms in your home or make an announcement to every room with a compatible Echo device." "CONNECT WITH OTHERS - Call and message almost anyone hands-free. Instantly drop in on other rooms in your home or make an announcement to every room with a compatible Echo device." "ALEXA HAS SKILLS - With 50,000+ skills, Alexa is always getting smarter and adding new skills like tracking fitness, playing games, and more." "VOICE CONTROL YOUR SMART HOME - Turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors, and more with compatible connected devices." Get it HERE.

13. Burberry Women's 'Nova Check' Swiss Quartz Stainless Steel and Leather Casual Watch A classic beauty wears Burberry. And this casual and cool Burberry watch suits any business woman who values class and quality. With a signature Burberry design and bold face, this watch earns both attention and respect. Imported Round stainless steel case White dial Date Check strap; Pin buckle Water resistant up to 165 feet (or 50 M): capable for swimming & showering Get it HERE.

14. Sivan Health and Fitness Yoga Set 6-Piece Includes 1/2 Ultra Thick NBR Exercise Mat, 2 Yoga Blocks, 1 Yoga Mat Towel, 1 Yoga Hand Towel and a Yoga Strap If your girl is a yoga lover, this 6-piece yoga gear makes a fantastic Valentine's gift for her. The yoga mat is plush and comfy. The towels are soft and luxurious. The product comes in an assortment of colors. Read below for more product descriptions. "Package includes: 1/2" NBR Yoga Mat/ 2 Yoga Blocks/ 1 - 68"x24" Yoga Mat Towel/ 1 - 30"x20" Yoga Hand Towel/ 1 Yoga Strap 1/2" ultra thick yoga mat with specially designed memory foam - Ribbed surface on one side with a smooth surface on the other; the non-slip surface grips the floor to prevent injuries - Features an integrated carry strap" "Provide support and balance with our durable foam yoga blocks and deepen your stretch with our 6.5ft yoga strap that allows for better extension of the body" "Our 68"x24" and 30"x20" yoga towels are designed with microfiber technology and prime absorption to provide slip-resistant and sweat-free workouts" "Great for yoga, Pilates, stretching and toning workouts - 71" long 24" wide yoga mat ensures comfort for people of all shapes and sizes" Find product HERE.

15. LIUANAN Stainless Steel Bracelet She Believed She Could So She Did Inspirational Cuff Bangle Powerful woman. Powerful jewelry. This bracelet is simple and amazing. With a message that boosts her confidence, she can wear it with pride, and look good too. Find bracelet HERE.

16. Love Berries Chocolate Covered Strawberries (12) If your mouth isn't watering looking at these, we'd like to examine your head. Just kidding. "A sweet way to send your love! 12 fresh strawberries are lavishly hand-dipped in premium dark, milk and pink-tinted white chocolate, and decorated with chocolate drizzle and heart sprinkles" "Each berry is delicately hand dipped and decorated in REAL chocolate in our own kitchen for both culinary artistry and exquisitely decadent taste." "Freshness and premium quality are 100% guaranteed. Made to order and shipped overnight with ice in our signature gift box to ensure perfect arrival." "Gift messaging available in checkout." Find them HERE.

17. BURBERRY Cranston Wool Blend Belted Double Breasted Trench Coat (Camel) This classic trench is a working woman's must-have. Its classy and clean lines flatter any figure. Its rich, camel color matches just about any outfit. Double breasted button closure keeps insides warm. One of the most brilliant inventions in style. "39" length, Notched collar, Lined" "Double-breasted button closure" "Long sleeves with belted cuffs, Back vent" "Front button-closure pockets, Removable belt" "72% wool, 23% polyamide, 5% cashmere with 70% wool, 20% polyamide, 10% cashmere trim" Find it at BURBERRY TRENCH.

18. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Scented Soy Candle (Geranium, Large, 7.2 ounce, Pack of 2) The sweet smell of geranium is just one of the reasons why we love these candles. Made with soy, they are good for the environment too. On the rare occasion when a busy business woman is able to relax, lighting these candles can create just the mood she needs. "Made from renewable ingredients like soy wax and vegetable wax" "Nonmetal, lead-free candle wick burns for 35 hours for a long-lasting floral scent" "Garden-fresh geraniums, so bold & cheery to see, and clearly quite rosy to smell" "Comes in a recyclable glass candle jar - makes for an easy gift" "Mrs. Meyer's produces cruelty free candles. None of our products are tested on animals" Find them at THIS LOCATION.

19. Bath and Body Gift Basket For Women and Men – Honey Jasmine Fragrance Home Spa Set with Hot & Cold Gel Eye Mask, Bath Bombs, Body Lotions, Gold Shimmery Travel Cosmetics Bag and More, 12 Piece Set Speaking of lighting candles and relaxing, this bath and body gift basket should help. "DELUXE 12 PIECE SET ♥ This spa gift basket has everything a woman needs! It includes Shower Gel, Bubble Bath, Body Lotion, Body Scrub, Bath Salt, Reusable Gel Eye Mask, Mirror and 4 x Bath Bombs. Packed in a stunningly wrapped reusable Gold, Shimmery Makeup Travel Bag, it also has a gift note card for you to personalize it." "SOOTHING JASMINE & HEALING HONEY ♥ Indulge in the therapeutic and healing scent of jasmine, loaded antimicrobial properties and often used as a bacteria fighter, while enjoying the antioxidants found in honey. Wrap yourself in seductive luxury with these enriching scents infused into all the bath, body and beauty products in this unique set." "SPA GEL EYE MASK & BEAUTY BAG ♥ Get a tranquil facial experience right home and relieve stress with the therapeutic hot and cold compress. It not only helps you relax and unwind, but can help puffy eyes, dark circles and relieve headaches and migraines. The mask is reusable and has a pretty golden glitter effect. The pretty makeup bag is reusable as a travel case for cosmetics, makeup, toiletries and beauty products. The bag is made with a glossy fabric that is waterproof and wipes clean" "PREMIUM QUALITY INGREDIENTS ♥ Every Lovery product is 100% Paraben and Cruelty-Free. These enriching beauty products are made with moisturizing Shea Butter and nourishing Vitamin E. They are safe even on sensitive skin! We’re confident you’ll fall in love with our beauty set, we’ve backed it with a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee." "PERFECT FOR HER ♥ It's the present any girl will love! Pamper and indulge the special lady in your life with a stunningly beautiful and elegant gift package. It makes a wonderful present for Birthdays, Holidays, Christmas, Anniversaries, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Bring a smile to your Girlfriend, Wife, Mother, Daughter or Beloved Ones" Find them at THIS LOCATION.

20. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex, 3.4 Ounce This product is excellent for any type of skin but especially for mature skin. It goes deep to repair night time's lack of moisture, and leaves skin dewy and soft in the morning. One of the best skin care products out there today. "Advanced night repair synchronized recovery complex ii - all skin types was launched by the design house of estee lauder It is recommended for everyday use." "Advanced night repair synchronized recovery complex ii - all skin types by estee lauder for unisex." Find it HERE.

21. Sam Edelman Women's Hazel Pump These pumps are sexy and make a powerful statement. They come in many colors, but we like them in punchy red. 100% Leather Imported Synthetic sole Padded sock - very comfortable Stiletto heel, low-cut vamp, leg-lengthening effect Find these beautiful pumps at Sam Edelman Pumps.

22. Life is Good Take it Slow, Turtle Gift Mug Add a little humor to her life. Sometimes, we all need to take it slow. "✅ A GIFT THAT EVERYONE WILL LOVE - Imagine the look on their face when your Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Aunt, Uncle, Husband or Wife open the box and find their new favorite coffee or tea mug. They will know you put in the extra effort to find something WAY better than a regular gift! They will read the imprinted Life is Good Take it Slow and laugh out loud! Fun and laughs guaranteed!" "✅ HIGH QUALITY - This premium quality 11 oz. mug was created by the best masters in the field and printed in the USA with a special top of the line laser printer. It's microwave and dishwasher safe. The imprinted design is printed on both sides of the mug and guaranteed to last. This cup is very durable, and can be used as a Coffee, Tea or any other beverage cup. It's also amazing to store things like pencils, pens and office stuff." "✅ YOUR GIFT SEARCH IS NOW OVER! - This mug makes a unique and original Turtle gift for your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, brother, sister or friend! It's an awesome present for Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and any occasion. A Mug for Finding the No Stress Chill & Relax Vibes - Love Lazy Sundays | For Your Busy Friends, Remind Them to Live Life to the Fullest" "✅ YOU'VE FOUND THE ONE - Show them you care with a "Mellow Manifesto" premium coffee mug. Finally, you can sit back, click "Add-to-cart" and have a great gift delivered to their door, on time! The best part is, this glass mug is unique from all of the others, so it will always stand out and become a favorite mug for years to come." "✅ 100% RISK FREE - We stand behind everything we produce with pride and we are sure that your loved ones will be absolutely thrilled with this personal gift. But, in the unlikely situation that they won't, we will be happy to refund your money! Get yours now because you're awesome!" Get the mug at LIFE IS GOOD TAKE IT SLOW MUG.

23. LEATHER JOURNAL Tree of Life Handmade Leather Bound Daily Notepads. Best Gift as Art Sketchbook, Travel Diary & Journals. "✔ BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED & UNIQUE EMBOSSED TREE DESIGN: Made from Soft & Supple Dark Brown Water Buffalo Leather with a real leather scent. Naturally tanned with special oil, if you scratch or fold this crazy horse leather, you create your own distressed style! Rub your markings and they will fade away. Hand made from 100% genuine leather, our journals can vary in look and shade, producing a unique item, no two are ever the same - a special keepsake for your thoughts & ideas" "✔ EARTH-FRIENDLY: 120 sheets/240 pages (counting both sides) of unlined, off-white/cream colored paper (NON-REFILLABLE), hand-crafted with recycled cotton which is acid free & tree free - environmentally kind! NO BLEED THROUGH: Use any pen on this thick quality paper which has a natural fiber variation, weighing 125gsm" "✔ PERFECT SIZE & MANY USES: Big 8x6 inch/A5 size and 1.5 inch thickness, easy for handwriting, drawing or sketching and compact for carrying in your bag. Ideal for alternative Artists Sketchbooks, Girls Diaries, Travelling, Watercolor Painting, Teen Journals, Poetry Work, Journalists, Guest Book, Food Planner, Scrapbook and Bible Journaling" "✔ RUSTIC CHARM: Stunning Antique Tree Embossing on the front cover with a leather wrap around strap which effectively keeps your journal closed and also acts as a handy bookmark. Hand stitched Coptic leather binding which secures the pages firmly whilst adding to the vintage charm of our timeless journals. This old-fashioned character leather has an amazing smell!" "✔ TRY IT TODAY with the added security of our 365 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Makes an Awesome Anniversary Present for Her or Birthday Gift for Mom! Buying 2, 3 or 4? SAVE UP TO $8.00! SEE ALL OUR DISCOUNTS BELOW. Your purchase will also be helping children in Zambia in Africa, as we donate a percentage of our profits to Tehila, a Non-Profit organization that promotes the prevention of child cruelty" Get the journal at TREE OF LIFE LEATHER JOURNAL.

24. Waterman Expert Matte Black Rollerball Pen A high quality pen goes well with a savvy business woman, don't you think? Its cigar-shaped silhouette and fine material certainly suits an executive persona. "Rollerball pens unite the tradition of liquid ink with ultimate comfort and convenience." "Palladium-plated trim and ultra-contemporary matte black create a design that is intense, surprising, and elegant." "Fine tip produces vivid ink colors." "Clip with palladium finish" "Black ink" "Presented in a Waterman gift box Find it at Waterman Pen.

25. UNIWALKER Vintage Suitcase 3 Piece Luggage Set This vintage luggage set looks unique and refined. It's certainly a head turner, as is the woman who owns it. "Polyester lining" "Rose gold 3 password combined lock: will protect your suitcase." "Pink printing design with LOGO." "Outside pu leather. Partial waterproof and easy to clean. You could only use stupe to wash the outside. Don't worry about that it will be dirty." "Adaptive positioning pull rod: Featured high quality aviation aluminum,lightweight aluminum material makes it anti-compression ability and smooth lifting. Multi gear design can meet the needs of different groups of people." "360 Spinner wheels: High quality wheels with super sound-off,built in bearing which is elastic and wear-resisting." Find it at UNIWALKER VINTAGE SUITCASE.

We dedicate today's article to the young women who aim to become leaders in their industries.  We believe that, despite being few and in between, women are able to lead organizations in various industries.  We also believe that women must help each other and create a supportive community.  We provided the list of women CEOs below, and hope that they serve our readers the examples they need.

List of Women CEOs (January 2019 Edition)

Mary Barra

Mary Barra is the current chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the General Motors Company. She has been at the helm of GM since January 2014. Her leadership at General Motors has seen some major corporate improvements as the company has undertaken measures targeting aligning itself with the corporate call for a global reduction in carbon emissions. Other achievements under Marry Barra’s leadership at the GM include the inception of the autonomous vehicle development project.

Mary's career at the General Motors Company has seen her advance from being the executive vice president to serving as a senior vice president in charge of various global operations in product development and supply chain management. She has particularly been instrumental to the global growth of the General Motors Company. She is, therefore, an inspiration to upcoming female corporate leaders who target making a difference in the most challenging workplaces.

• Company site: https://www.gm.com/
• Her corporate profile: https://www.gm.com/our-company/leadership/corporate-officers.html
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-barra-29469712/

Marillyn Hewson

Marilynn Hewson is the current chairman, president, and Chief Executive Officer at the Lockheed Martin Corporation. She has been holding the position since January 2013 after rising through the ranks from Executive Vice President in charge of electronics systems to being the President and Chief Operating Officer in 2010 and 2012 respectively. Her career with Lockheed Martin spans the last 35 years when she joined the company as an industrial engineer, a career that few women dare to venture into. Among her accomplishes at the Lockheed Martin Company so far include overseeing the culture of innovation and problem-solving at the customer, national, and global level.

• Company site: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/index.html
• Her corporate profile: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/leadership-governance/marillyn-hewson.html
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marillyn-hewson-24763179/

Safra Catz

Safra Catz currently serves of the Chief Executive Officer of the Oracle Corporation, a position she has been holding since 2014. She also serves in the company's Board of Directors. Safra has held various other high-ranking positions within the company since 1999 when she joined. Safra’s skills in corporate leadership and decision-making has seen her appointed to serve as Director at the Walt Disney Company and had held a similar previous position at the HSBC Holdings Plc.

As the Chief Executive Officer, she has overseen the strategic expansion of the company's partnership in providing technical solutions to businesses, governments, and individuals. Safra is, therefore, a major inspiration to women aspiring to make a difference in leadership and corporate management.

• Company site: https://www.oracle.com/index.html
• Her corporate profile: https://www.oracle.com/corporate/executives/catz/
• LinkedIn: Non-existent
• Bloomberg profile: https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=505784&privcapId=22247

Virginia Ginni Rometty

Virginia Rometty is IBM Company's current President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2012. In her position, she has overseen significant transformation and reinvention of the company to incorporate concepts relating to artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and cybersecurity. Her visionary leadership has seen IBM become one of the global strategic partners in the development of cutting-edge computer solutions that are making a huge difference today. She has also overseen the ushering in of a new era in data handling and processing. She is a true inspiration to upcoming women with ambitions of changing the world through visionary corporate leadership.

• Company site: https://www.ibm.com/us/en/?lnk=m
• Her corporate profile: https://www.ibm.com/ibm/ginni/
• LinkedIn: Non-existent
• Bloomberg profile: https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=23314014&privcapId=112350

Patricia Kampling

Patricia Kampling is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Alliant Energy Corporation. She joined the company in 2005 and served in various positions including as the Vice President in charge of Finance before transitioning to other roles including the Vice President in charge of Treasury, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer. She was promoted to the current CEO position in 2011 before being named as the company’s President in 2012. Her visionary leadership in the Alliant Energy Corporation has seen some major changes in customer service and development of innovative energy solutions. She is, therefore, a true inspiration to women leaders in the energy sector.

• Company site: https://www.alliantenergy.com/
• Her corporate profile: https://www.alliantenergy.com/AboutAlliantEnergy/OurLeadership/PatKampling
• LinkedIn: Non-existent
• Bloomberg profile: https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/people/7411367-patricia-leonard-kampling

Gail K. Boudreaux

Gail Boudreaux is the current president and Chief Executive Officer at Anthem Inc. Anthem is a prominent Fortune 50 corporate in the health benefits service provision industry. Her leadership at Anthem has seen some major improvements in terms of increased revenue and extended reach to more customers. She has also previously served in other prestigious corporations including United Healthcare and Blue Cross in senior positions. She is currently one of the few prominent women in the healthcare benefits industry.

• Company site: https://www.antheminc.com/
• Her corporate profile:https://www.antheminc.com/AboutAnthemInc/Leadership/ExecutiveLeadership/PW_G324762.html
• LinkedIn: Non-existent
• Bloomberg profile: https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=2461533&privcapId=160077

Tricia Griffith

Tricia Griffith was appointed to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer at the Progressive Corporation in July 2016. She joined the company in 1988 and has risen through the ranks, serving in various managerial positions in the claims division, the human resource department, and the finance sector. Tricia's visionary management in the company has seen significant improvements in terms of claims processing, customer management, and general service provision in the insurance sector.

The company has, under her leadership, grown to become one of the prominent players in the insurance industry in the automobile, property, and health divisions. In her over 30 years of service at the Progressive Corporation, she has served as a major inspiration to many upcoming women targeting making a difference in their workplaces.

• Company site: https://www.progressive.com/
• Her corporate profile: https://www.progressive.com/about/leadership/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-griffith-a2b153bb/

Barbara Rentler

Barbara Rentler has served as Ross Stores Inc’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors since June 2014. Prior her promotion to the current position, she served as the President and Chief Merchandising Officer and the Executive Vice President for the company. Since joining the company in 1986, Barbara has made significant contributions to the growth of Rose Stores to become one of the trusted textile and cosmetic products companies in the United States. She has, since appointment, steered the company into successful financial operations, leading to increased revenue, operating income, assets, and equity; a growth that few Chief Executive Officers ever achieve. Barbara is, therefore, a role model for many young women eyeing the beauty and cosmetics industry.

• Company site: https://www.rossstores.com/
• Her corporate profile: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=64847&p=irol-govBio&ID=39079
• LinkedIn: Non-existent
• Bloomberg profile: https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=1100608&privcapId=33926

Kathy Warden

Kathy Warden is the current Chief Executive Officer and President of the Northrop Grumman Corporation, a major player in the global aerospace and defense technology industry. She joined the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2008 before which she had served in various managerial and leadership positions in the General Electric Company and the General Dynamics and Viridian Corporation. Her expertise in aerospace management has enabled her to oversee the development of various mission-critical systems and large-scale complex hardware and software items.

She has also forged good working relations and partnerships with government agencies such as NASA and other international bodies in the aerospace industry. Kathy has dared to venture in an industry that very few women dream of. Her successful career in the aerospace industry in senior managerial positions is a major inspiration for upcoming and aspiring women aerospace engineers and managers.

• Company site: http://www.northropgrumman.com/Pages/default.aspx
• Her corporate profile: http://www.northropgrumman.com/AboutUs/CompanyLeadership/Pages/Detail.aspx?itemId=0023&loc=%2F&rel=%2F&name=CorporateLeadership
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-warden-1044a522/

Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the PepsiCo Company, a position she has served in since 2007. While at the helm of the second largest beverage company in the world, Indra Nooyi has focused on delivering sustainable growth in helping the company establish a global footprint and delivery of nutritious beverage products. Before becoming the Chief Executive Officer, Indra served in various other senior management capacities such as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President in charge of Corporate Strategy and Development. Her prowess in corporate management has seen the PepsiCo Company expand its emphasis on innovation and product development.

• Company site: https://www.pepsico.com/
• Her corporate profile: https://www.pepsico.com/about/leadership?deeplink_target=grid&deeplink_content=d79b61d7-9d58-48dd-a77c-7beaf35b3867
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/indranooyi/

Margaret Keane

Margaret Keane serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Synchrony Financial Company. She is one of the few women in the world today serving the CEO of a major financial services company. Margaret has served in the top position since 2011. Under her leadership, Synchrony Financial has achieved significant growth in national and regional markets in partnership with other strategic industry players in the financial services sector. She has overseen the company's growth to the current position where it is the largest provider of private label credit cards in the US market. Margaret’s contribution to the financial management sector serves as an inspiration to upcoming women interested in the professional financial services industry.

• Company site: https://www.synchrony.com/
• Her corporate profile: https://investors.synchronyfinancial.com/corporate-governance/board-of-directors/margaret-keane.aspx
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keanemargaret/

Adena Friedman

Adena Friedman became the President of Nasdaq in January 2017. She also serves in the institution’s Board of Directors. With over 20 years of experience in strategic management, Adena brings on board valuable managerial skills essential to spearhead Nasdaq to become the second largest stock market globally. She joined the company in 1993 and has since served in various junior positions where she has risen through the ranks to senior managerial positions. She has also been instrumental to the growth of Nasdaq through the acquisition of the Boston and Philadelphia stock markets, OMX, and INET. Her role in the expansion of the Nasdaq through proper strategizing is a great motivation to many other women who aspire to venture into the stocks exchange sector.

• Company site: https://business.nasdaq.com/
• Her corporate profile: https://business.nasdaq.com/discover/nasdaq-leadership/adena-friedman/index.html
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adenatfriedman

Conclusion

The above list of prominent women CEOs is derived from virtually every possible industry in the market. From the financial industry to the food, manufacturing, cosmetics, and aerospace industries, these CEOs have proven that women can deliver professional results. The incredible contributions that these women have made in their areas of investment are a testament to the concept of women empowerment. Their successful managerial skills have not only positively steered their companies but also inspired upcoming women with managerial aspirations.   

Written by Dan Escriba.  For more information, please contact us at STRONG FEMALE LEADERS.

As 2019 approaches, so do our goals and resolutions.  And if you are like any of the inspiring and motivating female leaders we write about at Strong Female Leaders, you are actively seeking examples to look up to.

Today, we have assembled five rags-to-riches stories of famous women entrepreneurs who faced hardship, took a chance at their dreams, and succeeded.  We hope their stories inspire YOU to be brave, stand up for what you believe in, and turn your dream into reality.

Happy New Year to you!

1. Zhou Qunfei - CEO Lens Technology 

A Chinese entrepreneur named Zhou Qunfei is the founder of Lens Technology. Her business became a major hit and produces millions of lenses for different companies up to this day. Her net worth reached 10 billion USD back in 2015, making her one of the richest women in China.

Qunfei was born in Xiangxiang, Hunan province in China of a family with inadequate and limited means. At the age of five years, her mother died and as her father lost his sight, she decided to quit school and worked in a factory in Shenzhen where she learned the trade of making watch lenses. Despite working for more than 12 hours, she still managed to study accounting and completed some courses from Shenzhen University. 

Qunfei saved each and every hard-earned penny at the age of 22. After years of hard work, she set up a silk-screen printing unit with the help of some relatives in 1993 with an investment of approximately 20,000 Yuan.

Winning her contract from TCL Corporation was her first breakthrough. Motorola reached out to Qunfei back in 2003 and asked her to design a scratch-proof glass for the Razr V3 phone. Afterward, mobile companies such as HTC, Nokia, Apple, and Samsung called her to produce phone lens at the Hunan-headquartered Lens Technology. Apple and Samsung brought around seventy percent of her company’s revenue.

Lens Technologies employs more than 75,000 people. She is from a very few self-made richest women the world has ever seen and is one of the top female entrepreneurs. As of 2018, her net worth is 3.5 billion USD.

2. Olivia Lum - CEO Hyflux 

A woman of talent and determination, Olivia Lum was raised in poverty with an adopted family, yet managed to work while attending school. 

After birth, Lum never knew her biological parents. She spent her childhood living in a shack selling several fruits on the streets and this became her source of income. Lum moved to Singapore and started to earn by tutoring children while pursuing her studies. She started her first job at Glaxo Pharmaceuticals after graduating with honors in Chemistry. 

Lum's ambition became her key to success. Eventually, she has decided to start her own business by selling her possessions to gather money. With $20,000, she started a water treatment company called Hyflux. With enough support from her lecturers at the National University of Singapore, Lum has built a membrane-based pilot water plant back in 1992.

Singapore’s first water desalination plant in 2005 was because of Lum's company. Hyflux was awarded the "Water Company of the Year" at the UK Global Water Awards last 2006, and as of 2007, Hyflux was worth $1 billion SGD.

Lum has been awarded as the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011, Financial Times ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Award 2011 for Entrepreneurship, and Nikkei Asia Prize for Regional Growth 2006. Lum earned her place on Forbes' Southeast Asia Rich List and had a net worth of over $240 million US as of 2015. 

Considered as one of the successful women entrepreneurs, Lum is one of the richest people in Singapore with a net worth of over $325 million dollars. The revenue of Hyflux is more than S$445 million and increases every single day.

3. Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel - Founder of Chanel

Born in 1883, Chanel was raised at an orphanage in France. At the age of 12, her mother died and her father abandoned her by sending her to the Aubazine convent in central France. The nuns from the orphanage taught her how to sew, and she was able to use her skills as a seamstress which eventually changed her life.

Chanel moved out of the convent at the age of 18 and worked as a seamstress and a singer at a bar for income. She dreamed of becoming a professional singer. It was during this time that she met the wealthy man named Etienne Balsan at the bar. At the age of 23, she began living with him and this helped her learn how to speak and act like a woman in high society. However, they did not end up together and she met an English man named Arthur "Boy" Capel. 

Boy Capel helped her finance her first boutique in 1910. Chanel opened her first shop at 21 Rue Cambon in Paris creating simple and elegant styles that were intimidated by all of Paris. Chanel was able to reimburse Capel's initial investment within the first year.

Women wore corsets and heavy fabrics back in the 1900s. Chanel began creating hats that were favored by famous French actresses. On the other hand, Chanel was the first woman to introduce casual wear to women’s fashion.

By using men’s fabric, Chanel popularized comfortable sportswear, woman's pants, and simple dresses that became a total hit. She opened more boutiques using her own money after establishing a firm reputation. Her designs in Paris greatly influenced the fashion industry for Chanel is a woman who changed the face of women’s fashion.

Today, the current owners of Chanel are worth $19 billion and Chanel continues to be a symbol of total luxury.

One of the famous women entrepreneurs and French fashion designer like Coco Chanel had a net worth of $100 million.

4. Sara Blakely - CEO Spanx

The founder of Spanx was born in 1971 and raised in Florida.

Blakely graduated with a degree in communication studies at the Florida State University back in 1993. She wanted to become a lawyer, however, she failed the LSAT twice. After scoring poorly on the LSAT, she ended up becoming a fax machine salesperson for 7 years and auditioned for jobs at Walt Disney World.

While working in sales back in 1998, Blakely came up with a new business idea. 

She came up with the idea while wearing a pair of white trousers, however, she was not satisfied with any undergarment that she would wear under them. Blakely then created her own solution. With only $5,000 in her life savings, she took the risk of starting up her own business.

Successful women entrepreneurs like Blakely had no background in creating a product yet she was able to create a design concept, packaging, and other materials using her vision and goals.

Before selling the product, Blakely asked help from owners of different garment mills, but they all turned her away. Until one of the mill owners agreed to help her for they thought the concept of Blakely was outstanding. In order to get her product in stores, she contacted Neiman Marcus. Shapewear brand known as Spanx started on the sales floor at various Neiman Marcus stores.

After spending two years working on her new business venture, Spanx is now a multi-million dollar undergarment company. She built Spanx entirely on her own through the use of her savings. 

As of today, her net worth is $1 Billion USD. Sara Blakely is considered as the World's Youngest Self-Made Female Billionaire.

5. Indra Nooyi - CEO PepsiCo

Nooyi was born in Madras, India back in 1955. 

In 1976, she graduated from Madras Christian College with a degree in Chemistry. She also earned her master's degree in business administration from the Indian Institute of Management. She was able to pay her college tuition by working in night shifts.

Nooyi also received an additional master’s degree in public and private management from the Yale School of Management in 1980 after moving to the United States. Nooyi worked at Johnson and Johnson after graduating, she also worked as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group for six years and held an executive position at Motorola. In 1994, she joined PepsiCo.

It is very inspiring that she was held among many top companies. Because of her dedication to her work, she finally became the CEO of PepsiCo, one of the largest food and drink company worldwide.

Top female entrepreneurs like Indra Nooyi has a net worth of $80 million dollars. 

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By Steph W.

For more information, please contact us at STRONG FEMALE LEADERS CONTACT PAGE.

Empowered Women and Their Powerful Leadership

Women have no limits.

They have the authority, tenacity and power to influence the world, and especially the younger generation. Thousands of inspiring female leaders are now rising above the rest, to motivate and empower millions of people around the world, using various platforms like TED Talks and TEDx, now easily accessible through the internet.

As the popularity of TED Talks increase, Ted Talks women's leadership unceasingly rises too. This month, we summed the latest and the best of must-see TED Talks about strong women leaders in their industries. We hope their experiences and passion inspire the leader in you.

Top 10 Ted Talks about Women's Leadership That You Need to Watch

1. Why we have too few women leaders

by Sheryl Sandberg

In this powerful TED Talk about women's leadership, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg examines the reasons why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their careers, and offers three impactful pieces of advice to women, and especially young women, aiming for a position in the C-suite.

Watch below.

2. Trust Your Struggle by Zain Asher

by Inés Hercovich

Zain Asher is a Nigerian British news anchor at CNN International who is based in New York City.

"When I first heard this phrase, I thought it was such a cliché, I heard it so many times while growing up, and that is: success comes when opportunity meets preparation."

Zain struggled to work her way up in CNN. She wanted to become better than others and while she was working at a local news, she decided to study and educate herself in local news. She believed that a bigger opportunity will come and look at her now.

"I truly believe in trusting your struggle, knowing that, the hardships you go through will somehow end up being for your own benefit. I also believe in turning a blind eye to competition. I believe in giving, I believe in trusting and knowing that your opportunity will one day come, you just have to be ready."

The main lesson that she learned in life is to prepare for every opportunity when it comes.

Watch below.

3. Know Your Worth by Casey Brown

by Inés Hercovich

Casey Brown is a pricing consultant and greatly supports that people should be paid based on their excellence. She uses her expertise to help clients discover their pricing power.

"Being properly valued is so important. Define your value and communicate your value. These are two elements to realizing our full earning potential."

Watch below.

4. What I Learned Serving Time for a Crime I Did Not Commit by Teresa Njoroge

by Inés Hercovich

Teresa Njoroge is the CEO of Clean Start Kenya. She is a criminal and social justice reform advocate.

Miscarriage of justice happens when an innocent person is found guilty or wrongfully accused of a crime.

"I had finally gotten the freedom that I longed for. I come as one, but I stand as ten thousand. Encouraged by the hope that thousands of us have come together to reform and transform the criminal justice system. Encouraged that we are doing our jobs as we are meant to do them, and let us keep doing them with no apology."

Njorge was convicted along with millions of people in prisons today, yearning for freedom. Strong female leaders like Njorge was convicted for three years and eventually got cleared by the court of appeal.

Watch below.

5. Increase your self-awareness with one simple fix by Tasha Eurich

New York Times best-selling author Tasha Eurich is an organizational psychologist and researcher.

She is an advocate of self-awareness. Self-awareness is the ability to see ourselves clearly, to understand who we are, how others see us and how we fit into the world.

"The search for self-awareness never ever stops, life goes on. Its up to us to choose to learn and grow from our mistakes and tragedies, and our successes. We need to change our 'why' to 'what'. Learn to be focused on the relationships that mean the most to you and understand the life that you want to lead."

Watch below.

6. How to motivate yourself to change your behavior by Tali Sharot (TEDxCambridge)

Do you have a behavior that you want to change about yourself?

Tali Sharot was born in Israel and is a professor of cognitive neuroscience in the department of Experimental Psychology at University College London.

"If we want to motivate change, we might want to rethink how we do it. Because fear: the fear of losing your health, the fear of losing money, induces inaction. While the thrill of a gain, induces reaction."

Try positive strategies rather than threats and seek progress. There is always an opportunity for progress.

Watch below.

7. What one skill = an awesome life? by Dr. Shimi Kang (TEDxKelowna)

Dr. Shimi Kang is from British, Columbia. She is a Harvard-trained medical doctor for seventeen years and has worked with thousands of people. She is also a successful writer and a researcher.

Kang emphasizes how humans are in a state of bizarre paradox or negative evolution.

"I changed and I adapted. Bring balance back into your lives, bring play, connection and downtime back into your lives. We humans, we are perfect instruments of adaptation. We humans are built and meant to thrive. And we humans, every single one of you can have an awesome life."

She continues to bring awareness and reduces the stigma of mental health and continues to educate kids and their parents.

Watch below.

8. 3 lessons on success from an Arab businesswoman by Leila Hoteit

Dr. Leila Hoteit was named Businesswoman of the Year at the Arab Woman Awards in 2016 and named Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum in 2014.

She is based in Dubai and is a core member of the BCG's Public Sector and People Organization. During her TED talk she spoke about three lessons for thriving in the modern world.

"Our culture emphasized at the time, that it was sons, not daughters, who should be professionally motivated. Women continue to advance in the world, not fast enough, but we are moving. The Arab will to making progress despite many setbacks. This is the result of strong Arab women not giving up, and continuously pushing boundaries."

Hoteit firmly believes that success teaches us about tenacity. Having a controlling mindset is crucial to your success.

Watch below.

9. An interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi

"When black people are free, everyone is free."

Four strong female leaders talk about the Black Lives Matter movement. It is a discussion about race, and inequality all over the world. Black Lives Matter is a human rights movement for black girls to have a vision that they deserve to be fought for.

"We have to invest in black leadership, that is what I have learned the most in the past few years. I believe that the movement for black lives is not just for us, but for everybody. " - Patrisse Cullors

"Practice stepping back as well as also sometimes stepping in. And what I learned in this process was that we need to acknowledge that different people contribute different strengths. In order for our entire team to flourish, we have to allow them to share and to shine." - Opal Tometi

"I think another way that we can support leaders is to struggle with us, but struglle with us politically, not personally. We can have disagreements without being disagreeable, but it's important for us to sharpen each other, so that we all can rise." - Alicia Garza

Watch below.

10. How Africa can keep rising by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

"When black people are free, everyone is free."

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian economist and the first female Minister of Finance of Nigeria.

"And our women, and our girls: we have to recognize that girls and women are a gift. They have strength, and we have to unleash that strength so that they can contribute to the continent."

She strongly believes in unleashing the youth, engaging all the young people especially women, is how Africa will rise. It is important to support women to create, innovate, and lead the way.

TED Talks women's leadership help us recognize and give credit to thousands of inspiring female leaders who have greatly contributed in our society.

Watch below.

This post was written by Steph W.  For more information, please contact us at STRONG FEMALE LEADERS CONTACT FORM.